A fresh wave of outrage has swept across Fiji following the vandalism of the historic Shiv Mandir in Samabula, with senior government leaders and community voices calling for unity, swift justice, and greater protection of religious sites.
Deputy Prime Minister and National Federation Party (NFP) leader Prof. Biman Prasad called the act “absolutely disgusting,” labelling it in his Facebook post a “sacrilegious” and “shameful” attack on the values of respect and harmony in Fiji.
“Absolutely disgusted by the sacrilegious act at the Shiv Temple in Samabula. Such disrespect has no place in our society. I strongly condemn this shameful act and call for unity, respect, and swift justice. Let us all stand together to protect the sanctity of our places of worship.”
Echoing the sentiment, Minister for Multi-Ethnic Affairs Charan Jeath Singh described the vandalism as both “criminal” and a “direct attack” on Fiji’s long-held principles of peace and religious tolerance.
“Our places of worship—of all faiths—must be protected and honoured. We will not tolerate any form of religious intolerance or hatred,” Singh said, affirming the Coalition Government’s commitment to defending the religious and cultural rights of all Fijians.
Prominent Indo-Fijian academic and civil society voice, Dr Sadhana Sen, expressed her anguish in a Facebook post, revealing the emotional toll of repeated attacks on Hindu temples. She noted the silence of some political leaders and warned that such incidents could be part of a larger pattern of intimidation and scapegoating of Indo-Fijians ahead of elections.
“The scenes are most hurtful and insulting to those of the Hindu faith…The hate crimes against Indo-Fijians seem to be starting again,” she wrote, urging vigilance and community solidarity.
“Don’t let these hate crimes get the better of you. Rise above it. Put your faith in real peace and shared love to shed ignorance from the dark that prevails some days.”
Rajen Prasad, another respected academic based in Suva, described the incident as “the worst one” to date, noting that the idols damaged in the Samabula temple were nearly a century old, “This is beyond words. The Shiv Mandir is one of the oldest Mandirs in Fiji and the idols were almost 100 years old.”
“This attack is the worst one. A direct hit in the heart of Hindus of Fiji. The trauma of this attack is far more than material as some may think. No amount of legal action against the individual will heal the hearts of the Hindus of Fiji. It’s damage beyond repair. Worse than 1987 and 2000. Where do these people get so much hatred. Disgusting. No words will heal this. It’s a national shame.”
The vandalism at Samabula follows earlier acts of sacrilege this year. In April 2025, pages of the sacred Ramayan were torn at the Vunicuicui Shiv Mandir in Labasa. The temple community condemned the act and urged interfaith respect, highlighting how religious texts such as the Ramayan, Bible, Quran, and Gita offer solace and guidance to millions.
The disturbing trend of attacks on Hindu temples in Fiji stretches back decades. In 2018, several temples near Suva and in Nadi were defaced with hate graffiti, paint thrown on idols, and donation boxes stolen. The Tirath Dham temple, vandalised before Christmas, prompted demands for transparency from police on the status of investigations.
In 2006, rising incidents forced temples to hire private security. Police at the time admitted they could not provide round-the-clock protection. Similarly, in 2004, the Shiu Narayan temple in Suva was targeted for the fifth time. And in 1991, firebomb attacks on multiple temples and the burning of sacred texts shocked the nation, drawing protests and accusations of police negligence.
Police investigations into the latest Samabula incident are ongoing. Community leaders are calling for action—not only to arrest those responsible but also to reinforce social cohesion and uphold Fiji’s multicultural identity.
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