Statement by Public Defender’s Council of Religions
Tbilisi. Public Defender’s Council of Religions releases the statement: We condemn violence, do not welcome the initiative relating to the law on insulting religious feelings.
“We, the religious associations represented in the Council of Religions, express our extreme concern over the mass violence we witnessed in Tbilisi on July 5-6.
We, representatives of religious associations, have often, more or less, experienced intolerance, hatred, discrimination, restriction of rights, abuse, violence. We understand very well what it means to be persecuted and oppressed because of the desire to protect human rights.
At the same time, at the violent rally on July 5, an initiative was voiced relating to the adoption of the law that bans insulting national and religious sentiments. Members of the Council of Religions oppose the adoption of such a law. We believe that such a law, restricting freedom of expression in this direction, will have a severe impact on the development of our society”.
Source: ombudsman.ge
