Damages to the Shiv Temple in the capital Suva. Photo: Screengrab / The Fiji Times
Fiji's former attorney-general claims attacks on the Indo-Fijian community are on the rise and the government is largely ignoring them.
Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum made the scathing comment after the historic Samabula Shiv Temple in Suva was vandalised on Friday.
The incident - which saw 100-year-old idols destroyed - has sparked outrage amongst religious organisations and politicians alike.
A 28-year-old man appeared in the Suva Magistrates Court on Monday, charged with one count of alleged sacrilege and one count of throwing an object.
Local media report that Samuela Tawake was remanded in custody for two weeks pending a psychiatric evaluation.
Samuela Tawase made his first appearance before Magistrate Yogesh Prasad in the Suva Magistrate’s Court on Monday afternoon. 14 July 2025 Photo: Screengrab / The Fiji Times
A video was said to have gone viral on Facebook showing a man on a rampage, smashing all of the deities in the sanctum, including one of Lord Shiva.
Police commissioner Rusiate Tudravu has expressed concern about the hateful rhetoric surrounding the incident and has called for calm.
Tudravu said police investigations would determine the motive behind the attack and baseless speculation only aggravated the situation.
The Shree Sanatan Dharm Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji is demanding the government step up protection for places of worship and strengthen laws around sacrilege.
Sabha president Dhirendra Nand said a man reportedly scaled the temple fence, pryed open a door and destroyed sacred idols in the with an iron bar, before trying to assault the caretaker.
Nand said the spiritual and emotional damage caused to the Hindu community, who make up around 24 percent of the population, was immeasurable and had left thousands of devotees across Fiji deeply hurt.
The Arya Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji has also strongly condemned the vandalism, describing it as "deeply disturbing."
"The Arya Sabha views such actions as criminal and an attack on the fundamental principles of religious freedom, mutual respect, and peaceful coexistence that form the foundation of Fiji's multicultural society," it said in a statement.
Sayed-Khaiyum said in a Facebook post on Sunday that the desecration was "the act of an individual, possibly radicalised to execute religious hatred with purpose."
He questioned why Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has yet to make a statement denouncing this "egregious act of hate."
"Inconsistent concern and commitment by the Prime Minister about hate speech and discrimination gives rise to and encourages radical ethno- nationalists who engage the political game of 'us' and 'them'," Sayed-Khaiyum wrote.
"If not reined in and spoken against in the harshest of terms by our leaders and those in positions of authority, then such acts will only give more oxygen to others who are already vulnerable to hate and discrimination."
The desecration of non-Christian places of worship started when "overt and blatant hate was espoused against Indo-Fijians in 1987, to justify the overthrow of the (Timoci) Bavadra government," he wrote.
"This was further fuelled during and after the overthrow of the Coalition government in 2000 when Mahendra Chaudhry was elected as the first Indo-Fijian Prime Minister."
Sayed-Khaiyum said that the rise in attacks against Indo-Fijians is being "increasingly accepted as the norm under the current leadership."
"A number of attacks on places of worship are not even reported because many in the Indo-Fijian community have lost hope that anything will be done."
One of Fiji's deputy prime ministers Biman Prasad told podcaster RonCast that such sacrilege had occurred in the past and should be condemned.
He said the suspect's motives were unclear and it was up to the police to determine them.
In a Facebook post, Labour leader Mahendra Chaudhry said the rise in such incidents demanded collective action and heightened awareness from all stakeholders.
However, the former prime minister urged the public not to interpret the attack as a sign of growing religious intolerance in Fiji.
While it was natural for Hindus to feel outraged, Friday's incident appeared to have involved an individual with mental impairment, he wrote.
"Any attack on a temple causing destruction of sacred scriptures and statues leaves deep scars and can be divisive in a multi-religious society."
"We encourage a proactive approach, including improved surveillance, community vigilance and collaboration with law enforcement agencies to safeguard our sacred spaces from further acts of desecration and hate crimes," he wrote.
Fiji's Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission is urging the police to ensure those responsible face the full force of the law.
Director Loukinikini Lewaravu said such sacrilege was not only morally corrupt but a violation of the right to freedom of religion and belief.
The Vishva Hindu Parishad Fiji has also strongly denounced the "heinous desecration" of sacred idols at the temple.
The national president Jay Dayaal stated that any act of sacrilege and religious intolerance is "deplorable and must be condemned in the strongest terms."
"Hate crimes are fuelled by religious prejudices, bigotry, stereotypes and supremacist ideologies. This is an anathema to a multi-cultural society like Fiji," Dayaal said.
Opposition MP Virendra Lal called for religious tolerance from all sectors of society.
"I have faith that the police will ensure justice is served because our god idols were destroyed. They are sacred to us," he said.
Fiji's Great Council of Chiefs also condemned the action, with its chairman labelling the attack as "senseless destruction", according to The Fiji Times.
RNZ Pacific has reached out to Rabuka's office for comment.
