Georgian Prime Minister congratulates Muslim citizens with Kurban Bayram holiday at Tbilisi mosque

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Monday congratulated Muslim citizens of the country with the Kurban Bayram holiday at capital Tbilisi’s Juma Mosque.

At the downtown mosque, the PM wished the community “health, well-being and happiness”,  calling Kurban Bayram a “symbolic day of kindness, a day of the victory of kindness, a day of new life and hope”.

He also emphasised religious tolerance in the Georgian society, and highlighted the heritage of harmonious coexistence of religious confessions in the country.

Photo: Government's Administration. 

“It is our [society's] obligation to treat others equally, to equally respect other people's faith, belief, religion. This is how I understand Christianity, this is how we all understand Georgianness. I, as the Head of the Government, will do my best to support your community, your spiritual leaders [...] and of course, our common goal, our common dream - the building of a strong Georgia, [...] and we count on you in this matter”, he told the community.

Mulsim leaders in Georgia thanked the Government head for his support and offered him gifts to mark their respect, while also hearing an address by Zaza Vashakmadze, the Chair of the State Agency for Religious Affairs.

Representatives of the diplomatic corps in Georgia were also present at the mosque for the holiday occasion, which honours the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son Ismail as an act of obedience to Allah's command.