The type of clothes which women wear is not the main cause for rape, says Shree Sanatan Dharm Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji national president Sarju Prasad.

“Men should not blame women dressing to be the main cause of rape,” he said.

Mr Prasad said girls should wear decent clothes but if they were wearing short clothes, men should control their lust.

“Women have rights,” he said.

Mr Prasad said he was saddened by the incident where 14-year-old Mere Ailevu, a student of Lomary Catholic Primary School was found half naked, dead with a Tee-shirt tied around her neck at Loloma Beach, Pacific Harbour, last Monday.

Police have already determined that she was brutally raped and killed.

“We should learn to respect each other,” Mr Prasad said.

“We need to work together to stop these heinous crimes against women.”

Mr Prasad said human moral values should be taught too in schools and at homes when the children were young.

“In all temples around the country we always teach the general public to respect each other,” he said.

“Women need more protection and it is our responsibility to protect them.”

The national president of the religious body is urging other religious bodies to work together and stop the violence against women and children in our country.

Edited by Rusiate Mataika

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