Fiji human rights chief slams MP over Diwali comments

Fiji's Human Rights Commissioner has condemned an Opposition MP's comments over this year's Hindu celebration of Diwali.

The country celebrates the Festival of Lights this weekend, with a public holiday on Monday to mark the occasion.

The Social Democratic Liberal Party's Lynda Tabuya, in a now-deleted Facebook post, had said Diwali should not be celebrated on a Sunday because it's a quiet day of rest for Christians.

But the Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commissioner Ashwin Raj said Tabuya's comments were "narrow-minded and parochial".

Raj said the Opposition Whip's "irresponsible remarks" have politicised a religious festival celebrated for 140 years by not just Hindus but by people of all faiths in Fiji.

Raj said the MP's comments were a condemnation of religious and cultural tolerance.

He also said Fiji had been through a period of religious intolerance, "through the unilateral imposition of the Sunday Ban, and the religious prejudice following the 1987 coups which destroyed multiculturalism".

The human rights chief said he was again seeing a surge in intolerance targeting people of various faiths.

Raj referred to what he called "the vile debasement of Prophet Mohammed on his birthday" after harsh criticism on social media from people who questioned why the founder of Islam was gazetted a public holiday in Fiji.

The country marked the prophet's birthday with a public holiday last week.

Raj said the Fiji Constitution protected religious freedom.

Tabuya has since issued a public apology over her comments.

But she said her remarks had been "taken out of its context".

Methodists, Hindus react

The Methodist Church had issued a similar statement saying it hoped more discussion was held about Diwali celebrations.

The church had said the use of fireworks on Sunday would disturb other religious gatherings.

The post was removed from Facebook.

The Hindu organisation, Sanatan Dharam Pratinidhi Sabha, said it was mindful of other religious groups in Fiji.

Its president Vigyan Sharma had said Diwali fell on a Sunday this year, according to the Hindu religious calendar.

Sharma said Diwali was celebrated during Amavasya which starts at 8.40pm on Saturday and ends at 5pm on Sunday.

He said Amavasya referred to a new moon night in the lunar month's first night and first quarter.

"On that day, though the moon is present, it cannot be seen with naked eyes, hence it is called a no moon day. And as the moon is invisible, the night is extremely dark."

Sharma said Hindus celebrate Diwali on the darkest night where people light up diyas, candles and lamps to mark "the victory of light over darkness and good over evil".