Members of the Muslim community have been told that as long as they live, work and raise families in Fiji they have nothing to fear.

They have also been told that they have the support of all the kai Nadi (traditional subjects of the Tui Nadi).

This was the assurance from the Tui Nadi, Ratu Vuniyani Navuniuci, during a prayer vigil at the Nadi Airport mosque at Namaka on Monday night.

The prayer vigil was organised by the Nadi Airport Islamic Society in remembrance of the 50 people who died during two mosque shootings in Christchurch, New Zealand, last Friday.

Three Fijians were among the dead.

“I feel sorry for families, whose family members died. They were like my brothers and sisters, it is just like my family,” Ratu Vuniani told the gathering.

“I would like to assure the Muslim community in Nadi that the Kai Nadi supports all races that dwell in Nadi.

“Even if they came from different parts of Fiji, but as a Kai Nadi and the paramount chief of Nadi I give my full support to whoever that dwells on our lands.”

An Islamic cleric based in Drasa, Lautoka, Mufti Zainul Abidean said, “Indeed it is a sad day not only for the Muslim community, but for humanity as a whole.

On that working day, they took ablution and the tragedy happened.

“Many lives are lost we pray for those injured to be healed. We are with the families and it is high time we go against hate speech and we have to act when we hear it.

“We are the children of Adam and Eve, there should be no discrimination among us.”

The event was attended by those who regularly attend the mosque, neighbours and members of the public, including the Methodist Church minister for the Nasareci Methodist Church at Namaka, Reverend Tomasi Daunakamakama.

Edited by Epineri Vula

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