In a breakthrough for religious freedom in Georgia, a new organization dedicated to promoting this fundamental human right was launched Oct. 23.

Following an initiative by the Seventh-day Adventist Church and the International Religious Liberty Association (IRLA), leaders of various faith communities, representatives of human rights organizations, and government officials met to inaugurate the Georgian Religious Liberty Association. The event was covered by national television and included the participation of two representatives of the Patriarchate of Georgia and government Ombudsman Beka Mindiashvili.

A former Soviet state, the Republic of Georgia is a nation of 4.7 million people. It is located just above Turkey and below Russia and shares a border with Armenia and Azerbaijan. An estimated 84 percent of the population is Georgian Orthodox, another 9.9 percent Muslim, and 3.8 percent are Armenian-Gregorian Christian.

Religious freedom in Georgia has improved since the detention of religious extremists and the election of a new government, conference participants were told. At the same time, religious freedom challenges are still a daily reality. Georgia has no religious freedom law, and the Orthodox Patriarch is often viewed as the most important authority in the country.

Archpriest Basil Kobakhide from the Georgian Orthodox Church pleaded for the protection of religious minorities, a very real issue in the country where smaller faith communities are often attacked by the media and experience difficulties in building churches and sharing their faith.

Dr. John Graz, IRLA secretary-general, chaired the meeting and gave a report about IRLA activities and the state of religious freedom in the world.

“Religious freedom does not threaten any religion or church but is a factor of peace and stability in society,” said Graz. “Religious difference is unavoidable in our global world and it is better to deal with this issue in the context of promoting human rights than to deny it.”

During his visit, Dr. Graz met several religious leaders and human rights defenders, along with Viktor Vitko and Pavel I. Liberanski who represented the regional organization of IRLA in Euro-Asia.

Participants elected as president Dr. Vladimir Gokabhidze, director of the Center for the Study of Religious Issues. Seventh-day Adventist Pastor Grigol G. Tsamalashvili was elected secretary-general of the Georgian Religious Liberty Association. Orthodox, Catholics, Protestants and Muslims are among the 21 board members.

Organized by members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and chartered in 1893, the IRLA is a non-denominational organization, established to promote and defend religious freedom for all groups and people around the world.