THE SOVIET REPRESSIVE MACHINE AND THE ,,INFIDEL KHOJA”: A BRIDGE BETWEEN RELIGION AND NATIONALITY

TAMAZ PUTKARADZE; KAKHA PUTKARADZE

TAMAZ PUTKARADZE Professor of Faculty of Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University, departament of history, archeology and etnology. 32-35 Ninoshvuli str. Batumi, Georgia http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0866-2474
KAKHA PUTKARADZE Defence and Security Directions, David Agmashenebeli National Defense Academy of Georgia 3rd km, Tskhinvali Highway, Gori, Georgia. http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9222-0673

Abstract

The paper explores the life and multifaceted legacy of Rasiq Beridze (1868–1974), a prominent religious and public figure in 20th-century Adjara. The relevance of the study stems from Beridze’s unique synthesis of high-ranking religious authority with a profound national consciousness, which was particularly evident during the complex Soviet political era. Based on the systematization of archival materials and family memoirs, the study analyzes his pivotal role in fostering the physical and spiritual unity of Georgian Muslims and Christians. The article portrays Beridze as a progressive reformer who advocated for the modernization of Islamic religious dogmas—such as fasting, the veil, and circumcision—to facilitate their adaptation to Georgian national identity. Specifically, he opposed the wearing of the veil, supported the preservation of Georgian surnames, and integrated religious rituals with labor activities.

Furthermore, the work examines Beridze’s political activism, his connections with the intellectual elite, and his journalistic contributions toward the reclamation of historical Georgian lands, such as Ardahan and Kars. The research highlights the mechanisms of the Soviet repressive apparatus through the lens of the Council for Religious Affairs, where Beridze was categorized as an "unreliable" and "liberal" figure. His legal and philosophical education obtained in Istanbul enabled him to serve as an effective diplomat between the Soviet authorities and the faithful. The paper concludes that Rasiq Beridze’s activities served as a bridge between Georgia's Christian past and its Muslim present, ultimately preserving a unified Georgian spiritual space under a totalitarian regime. His 106-year life remains a symbol of integrity, steadfast will, and selfless devotion to the homeland.

Keywords: Religion, Islam, identity, self-awareness.