Fiji Muslim League president Hafizud Dean Khan has confirmed legal action will be taken against those involved in the alleged cyberbullying of an 18-year-old student in Lautoka.

The student’s picture was posted on social media by political activist Ben Padarath.

Mr Padarath questioned the Minister for Education Rosy Akbar why the student could grow facial hair while students at other schools were not allowed to.

Mr Khan said as a result of the social media post, the student had refused to go to school.

“They’re totally out of whack because its none of their business, they should be worried about other bigger things in this country, they should not be stirring up things in religious and cultural differences,” Mr Khan said.

“If they don’t like someone personally that’s another matter but they shouldn’t bring it against the whole community. What they have done is they have traumatised this young boy and the boy is having difficulties and is going to undergo counselling and we are going to take very serious legal actions.”

He said the student’s choice to grow his beard might have been because his family was conservative and they were allowed to grow facial hair for religious reasons as long as it was kept neat.

“This child may have suffered permanent damage as far as we know and he has been definitely upset,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Padarath said his social media post was not discriminatory at all.

“I simply questioned a picture that appeared in the Fiji Sun as a parent seeking a clarification from the Minister responsible,” he said.

He said he was unaware that the Fiji Muslim League was taking legal action against those involved and stated Ms Akbar was yet to respond to his initial queries.

When asked whether he would be issuing an apology to the student’s family, Mr Padarath said he would respond to the question later.

The Ministry of Education in their response last week had clarified that it was the Ministry’s policy -in line with the Fijian Constitution – to allow schools to cater to students’ religious and cultural practices which included growing of facial hair.

Edited by Selita Rabuku 

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