Tension grows between Orthodox, minority faiths

MOSCOW — Tension between Orthodox Christians and religious minorities is rising in the former Soviet republic of Georgia despite calls from local and U.S. politicians for a halt to religious violence.

In three separate incidents during the month of July, Roman Catholics, Jehovah’s Witnesses and Pentecostals all claim they have been threatened, harassed and, in two cases, physically attacked by members and clergy of the country’s dominant Georgian Orthodox Church.

Over the last three years, religious freedom monitors have documented more than 100 cases of beatings, arson, vandalism and theft in Georgia, a country of 5 million people located between Russia and Turkey. Most of the attacks are by followers of a radical Orthodox priest, Father Basili Mkalavishvili, against Jehovah’s Witnesses.