Georgian human rights and watchdog groups have called on the Parliament not to adopt a bill making “insult of religious feelings” administrative offense, saying that it would “significantly limit freedom of speech and expression.”

The bill, sponsored by MP from ruling GD coalition Soso Jachvliani, was endorsed by the parliament’s human rights committee at a session on February 2. The bill, however, drew criticism from some ruling coalition members, specifically lawmakers from the Republican Party.

“The Parliament should not adopt this bill. I think it is in conflict with constitutional rights and serves limiting freedom of expression; I will not support this bill,” GD MP Levan Berdzenishvili of the Republican Party said.

Before moving to parliamentary session, the bill, which proposes imposing fine for “insult of religious feelings”, has to be discussed by the legal affairs committee, which is chaired by GD MP Vakhtang Khmaladze of the Republican Party.

A group of civil society organizations, united in a coalition No to Phobia, said in a statement that along with limiting freedom of expression, such legislation would also have negative effect on religious minority groups.

“It is especially alarming that the bill… has been supported by the parliamentary committee for human rights, whose main function should be support to protection of democratic principles, human rights and freedoms,” reads the statement signed by Tolerance and Diversity Institute (TDI); International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy; Transparency International Georgia; Media Development Foundation; Georgian Democracy Initiative; Georgia’s Reforms Associates (GRASS); Identoba; Safari; Article 42 of Constitution.

The groups also said the discussion that took place at the parliamentary committee for human rights suggests the bill will aim at “banning healthy criticism of the Georgian Orthodox Church.” 

“Unfortunately, instead of looking into ways of how to react on frequent cases of attacks on religious minorities and religious hate crimes, the Parliament is discussing limiting healthy criticism of the Georgian Orthodox Church by the public,” reads the statement.

In a written statement on February 4, the Georgian Orthodox Church denied suggestions that the Patriarchate is behind the bill or that the bill aims at limiting criticism of the Church.

“Although there are frequent cases of insults and use of hate speech against the Church and its leader, adoption of such a bill has not been our initiative – neither now nor previously,” it said.

The Georgian Orthodox Church called on the authorities in January, 2015 to provide for “limits to freedom of expression” in order to protect rights of believers against “insult of religious feelings.”

In late 2013 the Interior Ministry-proposed draft law was offering adding “insult of religious feelings” clause to the code of administrative offenses, but at the time the proposal was dropped.