Refworld Case Law Collection Survey
Georgia's Orthodox Church opposes antidiscrimination bill
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 29 April 2014 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Georgia's Orthodox Church opposes antidiscrimination bill, 29 April 2014, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/53a137ceae6.html [accessed 3 January 2017] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
April 29, 2014
By RFE/RL's Georgian Service
The Georgian Orthodox Church has urged parliament to postpone adoption of an antidiscrimination bill, saying it may contain clauses contradicting Georgia's traditional values.
The Church's statement, published on on April 28, says believers consider the antidiscrimination bill to be "propaganda and legalization" of "deadly sin," because it includes "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" on the list of prohibited grounds of discrimination.
Adoption of the antidiscrimination law is one of the requirements that Georgia has undertaken under its Visa Liberalization Action Plan in order to be granted a short-term visa-free regime by the European Union.
Some Georgian Orthodox priests have previously spoken out against the proposed antidiscrimination bill.
But the Georgian Patriarchate's April 28 statement is the first public expression of an official church position on the issue.
With reporting by Civil.ge
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
