"It is very sad to think that this man was once the PM of our beloved country.The statements underlined Qarase and his party SODELPA's desperation. His absurd and unintelligent statement can be quickly dismissed by a simple Google search that will show that the word justice appears several times in several chapters and several verses in the Quran like in many other religious texts including the Bible” -
Aiyaz Khaiyum
FijiFirst Party says former Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase is inciting hate when he made comments linking the numbering convention on the ballot paper to the Muslim holy book Quran. And the party's General Secretary Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has called on the police and the Electoral Commission to investigate the matter.
Qarase is reported to have said during a SODELPA campaign visit in Davuilevu that the starting number of the ballot paper, 135, "is taken from chapter four of the Quran on theme that is based on justice." “We also hope that the Electoral Commission will take some meaningful action to stop such disgraceful conduct," Sayed-Khaiyum said.
"It is very sad to think that this man was once the PM of our beloved country." He said the statements underlined Qarase and his party SODELPA's desperation. “His absurd and unintelligent statement can be quickly dismissed by a simple Google search that will show that the word justice appears several times in several chapters and several verses in the Quran like in many other religious texts including the Bible,” Sayed-Khaiyum said. He said it was quite obvious that SODELPA was now resorting to xenophobia and religious discrimination.
“Their desperation is so advanced that they are looking for a conspiracy everywhere. “In doing so they have no shame or fear about causing intolerance and promoting communal hatred - an affront to the teachings of Jesus Christ.” Early this week, the Electoral Commission had issued a statement advising political parties, politicians and the public to uphold ethical conduct during the election campaign period and post-election. The commission said it was unlawful but it was not in a position to prosecute or police complaints. Commission Chairman Chen Bunn Young said the police were the rightful authority to lodge complaints with. Source: Fijilive, 6 August 2014
Qarase is reported to have said during a SODELPA campaign visit in Davuilevu that the starting number of the ballot paper, 135, "is taken from chapter four of the Quran on theme that is based on justice." “We also hope that the Electoral Commission will take some meaningful action to stop such disgraceful conduct," Sayed-Khaiyum said.
"It is very sad to think that this man was once the PM of our beloved country." He said the statements underlined Qarase and his party SODELPA's desperation. “His absurd and unintelligent statement can be quickly dismissed by a simple Google search that will show that the word justice appears several times in several chapters and several verses in the Quran like in many other religious texts including the Bible,” Sayed-Khaiyum said. He said it was quite obvious that SODELPA was now resorting to xenophobia and religious discrimination.
“Their desperation is so advanced that they are looking for a conspiracy everywhere. “In doing so they have no shame or fear about causing intolerance and promoting communal hatred - an affront to the teachings of Jesus Christ.” Early this week, the Electoral Commission had issued a statement advising political parties, politicians and the public to uphold ethical conduct during the election campaign period and post-election. The commission said it was unlawful but it was not in a position to prosecute or police complaints. Commission Chairman Chen Bunn Young said the police were the rightful authority to lodge complaints with. Source: Fijilive, 6 August 2014
