Manifestations of Georgian Muslim counterpublics

This article examines how religiously educated Muslims from Ajara challenge the longstanding marginalization of Islam and Muslim identity within Georgia’s predominantly Orthodox Christian society. Historically, the Muslim community in Ajara has faced exclusion and social stigmatization due to their Ottoman heritage and religious affiliation. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the reopening of borders, many young Ajarans pursued religious education in Turkey. Upon their return in the early 2000s, they played a pivotal role in establishing and promoting Islamic educational organizations throughout the region, which, this study argues, function as counterpublics that combat marginalization. The article explores how these counterpublics seek to contest the marginalization of Islam and Muslim identity while redefining what it means to be a Georgian Muslim in contemporary society.