25 June 2012, 22:00
Batumi hosts protest action against construction of mosque
In the centre of Batumi, activists of a number of Georgian public and political organizations held a protest action against construction of a mosque.
According to the participants of the protest action, their goal is to consolidate the political spectrum and the public in Adzharia.
Djondi Bagaturiya, the leader of the movement "Kartuli Dasi", urged not to allow construction of the mosque Azizie in Batumi and "desecration of the grave of the cadets", the "Georgia Online" reports.
In his turn, Kakhi Kukava, the leader of the "Free Georgia", stated that, according to him, Adzharia faces the Turkish expansion.
Opposition leaders have urged the public to gather once again on June 30 at 7:00 p.m. near the grave of the heroic cadets to force officials to stop the construction of the mosque.
The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on March 2, activists of the Labour Party held a protest action at the Turkish Embassy in Tbilisi. They expressed their protest against the construction of the mosque Azizie in Batumi.
The Georgian and Turkish sides agreed on the construction of new mosque and restoration of churches. Georgia has agreed to allocate space for the construction of the new mosque. In its turn, Turkey has committed to the restoration of the churches in its territory.
It should be noted that many Batumi residents express no protest against the construction of the new mosque in the city. However, there are people, who oppose construction of mosques in Adzharia.
