Georgian Muslims demand DNA analysis of Stalin's repression victims

It is necessary to analyze the DNA of the remains found in Batumi in the mass burial of those repressed in 1937-1938, the Muslims of Georgia believe. They have demanded to rebury the remains into a neutral cemetery, which does not belong to any religious institution.

According to Beglar Kamashidze, the Mufti of all Georgia, most of the remains found in Batumi's mass graves of people repressed in 1937-1938 belong to Islam believers. To identify those buried there, it is necessary to conduct DNA analyses, the Mufti said at a briefing on April 10.

In Batumi, in the territory temporarily belonging to the Patriarchate of Georgia, four mass graves were found of citizens, who were executed during the Bolshevik repressions in 1937-1938. This became known from the statement of the Batumi and Laza Diocese of the Georgian Orthodox Church, published on April 8. Remains of about 150 people were found in the graves.

In the published list, 60-70% of the repressed people were Muslims, said Beglar Kamashidze. Therefore, it is necessary to identify them and conduct appropriate burial procedures, the Georgian Channel One reports on its website.

It is categorically wrong to bury Muslims according to the rites of another religion, in the territory belonging to the Patriarchate of Georgia, Mufti Kamashidze has stated.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on April 11, 2019 at 07:24 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.