Members of Azerbaijani community of Georgia: Novruz isn’t religious holiday

Ten non-governmental organizations and public activists representing Azerbaijanis in Georgia have made a joint statement, the Georgian bureau of Report informs.

The document states that an appeal submitted to the Georgian government for a one-day cancellation of the curfew in the country on March 21, the day of Novruz, was incorrectly sent to the State Agency for Religious Affairs.

According to the authors of the statement, Novruz holiday has nothing to do with any religion, including Islam: “In addition, we know that all restrictions and decisions in connection with the pandemic in Georgia are made by the Interdepartmental Coordination Council, acting under the leadership of the prime minister.”

Members of the Azerbaijani community have called on Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, the government administration, and the Coordination Council to consider the appeal.

The document reads that the Novruz holiday is included in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List. It was also emphasized that the Novruz holiday in Georgia has been celebrated for centuries, as evidenced by the famous work of the outstanding Georgian poet Shota Rustaveli “The Knight in the Panther’s Skin.”