Rhetoric of epidemiologists encourages xenophobic sentiment - TDI Mushevani’s incident
By Nika Gamtsemlidze
Monday, May 4
The Institute for Tolerance and Diversity (TDI) says it is important for the government and epidemiologists to refrain from making unreasonable statements provoking intolerance on ethnic/religious grounds. The case concerns comments about the events in the village of Mushevani in Bolnisi, when locals did not allow doctors to transport those infected with the Coronavirus.
According to Amiran Gamkrelidze, head of the Centers for Disease Control, they were informed that political processes had taken place in the village of Mushevani of the Bolnisi region and that religious leaders of the region had also played a role.
Gamkrelidze later explained that he meant the need for religious leaders to do more to help to educate and explain the current situation better to the ethnic minorities. TDI writes that such rhetoric contributes to stigmatise ethnic and religious minorities and to stir up xenophobic attitudes in the society.
The institute calls on the Georgian authorities to pursue a policy based on inclusion, equality and integration. Also, to stop discriminatory policies against Muslims and to establish fundamental human rights instead of security; To ensure timely and proactive informing of ethnic minorities about the epidemiological situation.
“Muslims are systematically discriminated against in Georgia. The state is rudely interfering in the autonomy of the religious community and they are not doing anything to protect their rights,” reads the statement of TDI.
On May 1st, local residents in the village of Mushevani in Bolnisi did not allow doctors to take those infected with the virus to hospitals. As Gogi Meshveliani, a majoritarian MP from Bolnisi, said, epidemiologists were prevented from transporting the infected by local youths who were drunk. The infected were taken to the clinic on May 2nd.
According to the governor Shota Rekhviashvili, the incident in Bolnisi municipality is a single case. According to Rekhviashvili, religious leaders have played a supporting role in the Kvemo Bolnisi community and helped spread the word about the virus.
An investigation is underway with Article 187 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which stipulates damage or destruction of an item. Two vehicles were damaged, the agency said.
The novel coronavirus has spread in most of the countries around the world, infecting more than 3,5 million people. Most cases were reported in the US, where there are more than 1,6 million confirmed cases.
The number of people infected is rising every day. In Georgia, there have already been more than 590 cases reported, out of which, 9 have died and 221 have recovered.
