2 injured in confrontation between Muslim, Christian communities in Guria, western Georgia
For several months now, part of the local Muslim population has wanted to build a mosque in the village, though they are opposed by the Christian local population, which resulted in a conflict between locals on January 12. Photo: netgazeti.ge.
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Two individuals were injured in a confrontation between Muslim and Christian communities in Georgia’s western village of Buknari, in Chokhatauri municipality.
For several months now, part of the local Muslim population has wanted to build a mosque in the village, though they are opposed by the Christian local population, which resulted in a conflict between locals on January 12.
Yesterday late after the incident police detained one individual for attacking two locals in the village of Buknari.
The Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs said that two minors with head injuries were transferred to hospital and their lives are not in danger.
The Muslim community has been living in the village for Buknari for several decades. They settled from the highland villages of Adjara and Guria regions 70 years ago. Currently they represent half of the local community.
While responding to the issue, the Human Rights Education and Monitoring Centre (EMC) said that the Muslim community has been asking for the construction of a mosque in the village since 2007, however they encountered obstacles and space for the mosque has not been allocated until now.
Ten months ago, the local Muslim community bought a house in the village and soon began to attend religious services there. The Muslim community said they were not going to build a mosque, as they did not want to irritate the neighbouring Christians. However, the Christian locals were still irritated as Muslims organised a prayer space in the village, which resulted in the confrontation yesterday”, reads an official statement of EMC.
EMC also said that some Christian locals do not allow the Muslim community to pray, as ‘they are settlers in the village and have no right to build a mosque there’.
The Muslim Mufti of Kobuleti and Chokhatauri, Aslan Beridze, has visited the village of Buknari today. He said the prayers will not stop in the village. Photo: 1TV.ge.
The Mayor of Chokhatauri, Irakli Kuchava, stated earlier today that the government and police will do their best to resolve the conflict without any excesses.
We are one people, one race. We need to find a common language… The government and police will do their best to resolve this conflict without any excesses”, said Kuchava.
A dialogue between the conflict parties was supposed to take place in the region today, but the meeting was not held.
The Muslim Mufti of Kobuleti and Guria, Aslan Beridze, visited the village of Buknari today. He said the prayers will not stop in the village.
The Human Rights Committee of the Parliament of Georgia discussed the draft of a bill yesterday which would make ‘insulting religious feelings’ punishable by the Criminal Code of Georgia.
The 11-person commission will examine the history of the building in Mokhe village in the Adigeni region, which has been a topic of intense dispute between the local Christian and Muslim population.
Clashes between religious groups in a southern Georgia village about the future of a building which has historical importance for Christians and Muslims has drawn criticism from the Prime Minister, who said people of all religions were equal and everyone must obey the law.
Muslim and Christian communities of Georgia’s western village of Buknari (Chokhatauri municipality) will meet tomorrow in order to resolve a religious conflict which started two days ago, reports Radio Free Europe/RL (RFE/RL).
Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia has responded to the religious conflict in Georgia’s western village of Buknari and said that the Georgian government will not allow anyone to provoke confrontation between citizens on religious grounds.
The religious controversy between the Muslim and Christian communities of the village of Buknari has been resolved peacefully earlier today, as the conflicting sides have agreed that the Muslim community will continue their prayers in the house which they have bought a year ago for religious services.
Several individuals have been injured in confrontation between ethnic Azerbaijani and local population in Georgia’s eastern Dmanisi municipality earlier today.
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has found Georgia guilty of discrimination and ill treatment of four Georgian Muslims who protested a local government’s decision to rebuild the former mosque in the village of Mokhe as a library in Georgia's southern Adigeni municipality.