Georgian Muslims demand new mosque from government

The Muslim community in Georgia´s Black Sea resort of Batumi had been asking the authorities to build a second mosque for many years.

The Muslim community in Georgia´s Black Sea resort of Batumi had been asking the authorities to build a second mosque for many years.

Frustrated over a perceived lack of interest form the state, a group of Muslims decided to take matters into their own hands.

The group founded in January had within a month had collected 12,000 signatures in support of building a new mosque in Batumi, Georgia´s second largest city and capital of the country´s southwestern Adjara Autonomous Republic.

The signatures were then forwarded to the president, prime minister and other senior officials.

A dedicated fund was also created, and on September 7 the group purchased a plot of land. They are now awaiting permission to start building a new mosque.