Categories
Journalistic Survey
Articles
Reportage
Analitic
Photo Reportage
Exclusive
Interview
Foreign Media about Georgia
Editorial
Position
Reader's opinion
Blog
Themes
Children's Rights
Women's Rights
Justice
Refugees/IDPs
Minorities
Media
Army
Health
Corruption
Elections
Education
Penitentiary
Religion
Others

Coalition for the Freedom of Choice Statement

November 7, 2012

Coming of the new government in the country after the October 1 Parliamentary Elections gave hope to our society that Georgia will soon return to democratic development. At this stage of the country’s development, the strong political will of the government to ensure absolute actualization of the constitutional rights for every citizen plays the key role. We would like to draw your attention to recent incidents in Nigvziani village of Lanchkhuti district, where one part of the local population does not allow our Muslim compatriots to freely demonstrate their religion and hinders the practice of their lawful religious services. Negligence of local and central authorities on these clearly illegal actions and activities on part of the local population is particularly significant because it discredits the new government before both Georgian and international society. The government’s inactivity with regard to similar events, as well as the spontaneous decisions made without deep analysis of present or possible controversy might escalate religious controversy throughout the country, which could undermine public peace and state security.

We hope the government will adequately respond to this incident and conduct preventive measures to prevent the violation of the religious rights to the citizens in our country.

Members of the Coalition for the Freedom of Choice:

1. Irakli Melashvili – member of the Coalition for Freedom of Choice;
2. Zviad Koridze – journalist, member of the Coalition for Freedom of Choice;
3. Human Rights Centerl
4.  Georgian Media-Monitoring Center;
5. Georgian Media-Club;
6. International Center on Conflict and Negotiations;
7. Caucasian Institute of Economics and Social Research;
8. Center of Local Democratic Network;
9.  Resource Center of Civic Education

News