A Fijian of Indian descent has sparked widespread outrage after posting a video containing anti-Muslim remarks that have been widely condemned as bigoted and inflammatory.
The video, which is circulating on Facebook, features former Nadi resident Aklesh Kumar, who now lives in the United States, launching a verbal attack on Islam and Muslims around the world.
Kumar makes a series of sweeping and derogatory claims about Muslims, accusing them of corruption and violence and alleging they target other races and religions to assert supremacy.
His remarks have drawn sharp criticism from community leaders and social media users, who say the statements promote intolerance, misinformation, and religious hatred.
In the video, Kumar claims that Muslims have been “trying to destroy India for decades” and alleges without evidence that they are now attempting to do the same in the United States.
He goes on to associate Muslims broadly with serious crimes, including rape, hijackings, bombings, and killings, comments that critics say dangerously stereotype an entire faith followed by more than a billion people worldwide.
Kumar said his comments were triggered by anger following a recent incident near the White House, in which a Muslim individual allegedly shot two National Guard troops.
Observers, including Muslims and non Muslims in Fiji and in overseas have condemned Kumar’s triad targeting one group is preposterous.
Religious leaders from both the groups have warned Kumar stop the spread of hate speech.
“This kind of rhetoric fuels division and puts innocent people at risk,” one interfaith representative said.
“No faith or community should be collectively blamed for the actions of an individual.”
As calls grow for restraint, many have urged Kumar to retract his statements and apologise, while reminding the public that freedom of expression does not extend to inciting hatred or spreading harmful stereotypes.
