Sayed-Khaiyum Warns of Rising Anti-Indo-Fijian Hate After Temple Attack

Former Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has raised concerns about the growing normalization of hate against Indo-Fijians, following the broad daylight desecration of the Samabula Shiv Mandir.

In a statement released yesterday, Sayed-Khaiyum said the attack appeared to be the act of “an individual person possibly radicalized to execute religious hatred with purpose,” and was designed to deeply hurt Fiji’s Hindu community.

He described the temple as a historic and significant site, noting its close proximity to Suva’s Parliament, Police Headquarters, and the Samabula Police Station.

“This shows how vulnerable some Fijians and their places of worship are,” he said.

Sayed-Khaiyum said such incidents are part of a pattern stretching back to the political upheavals of 1987 and 2000 but warned that the current environment has allowed hate to become increasingly normalized.

“The increase in such attacks against Indo-Fijians is becoming accepted as the norm,” he said. “Many acts, including attacks on places of worship, are not even reported to the authorities anymore because members of the Indo-Fijian community have lost hope in the system and in the political leadership.”

“If not reined in and spoken against in the harshest of terms, such acts will only give more oxygen to others who already have—or are vulnerable to—hate and discrimination.”

Calling for collective responsibility, Sayed-Khaiyum urged all Fijians to reject bigotry and defend the rights of all communities.

“All those who call Fiji home must come out and make the strongest possible stand against such hate. Discrimination and injustice of any kind is absolutely wrong in the eyes of God.”

“We all are, after all, God’s children and His creation," Sayed-Khaiyum said.