In the township of Adigeni, another rally was held near the residence of Merab (Yusuf) Mikeladze, with participants protesting the operation of a Muslim chapel in the house. A large number of police officers were mobilized at the scene. Internal Affairs Ministry employees blocked the road to Muslims intending to join the rally at the entrance of Adigeni, from the Zarzma side.
News
Trending stories
- 1 Protests Erupt in Abkhazia Over Russia-Favored Law, Opposition Members Arrested
- 2 Edison: 13% Discrepancy Between Exit Polls and CEC Results Suggests Manipulation
- 3 Kobakhidze: German Chancellor Should Be More Concerned About His Own Problems
- 4 US-Sanctioned Russian Propagandist Present in Georgia During Elections
- 5 President’s Lawsuit on Elections Registered by Constitutional Court
- 6 Judge of Tetritskaro Annuls Results of 30 Precincts Over Vote Secrecy Violations
Locals and Orthodox clerics gathered in the yard of Mikeladze's house before the traditional Friday prayer. Nikoloz Getsadze, the abbot of the Zarzma monastery, stated that their goal was to make the Muslims understand that they would not accept the existence of a chapel in the township and that they should accept the government's offer.
"They were offered an alternative space where they will have the opportunity to satisfy their religious needs, although there is no need for this, as there are many mosques in the territory of the municipality. There are a few people, who are not representatives of traditional Islam, who, as if instructed by someone, ask whether you want it or not, it will be so. No one here will accept it, it is impossible. Before we change our minds, they should agree to the government's offer," said Nikoloz Getsadze.
The clergyman requested the authorities, stating that it is necessary to correct the legislative "lapse": "What is a residential house and what is a religious building should be separated from each other as much as possible."
Other participants of the rally note that they will not stop until Merab Mikeladze's house is handed over to the municipality.
The State Agency for Religious Affairs offers two options to Merab Mikeladze: either to give up his house in Adigeni in exchange for allocating an alternative space in the village of Ijareti, located 800 meters away or to have his house bought out by the municipality.
According to the chairman of the agency, Zaza Vashakmadze, they received an "unreasonable" rejection of the offer from Mikeladze, which he attributes to political motives. Vashakmadze stated that Tariel Nakaidze, a member of the Parliament of Georgia and the former chairman of the Union of Georgian Muslims, is "involved in the proceedings."
The Friday prayer was also disrupted on March 8, when about 200 people gathered at Merab Mikeladze's house. They demanded that Mikeladze and two other people leave the building. The abbot of the Zarzma monastery tried to invade private property despite the police cordon and threatened Merab Mikeladze with violence. Mikeladze applied to the Special Investigation Service and requested that an investigation be started into the fact of persecution on the grounds of religious intolerance.
