Allow due process for Grace Road Church members – Human Rights Commission

Allow due process for Grace Road Church members – Human Rights Commission

By Vijay Narayan
Thursday 14/09/2023
Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission Chair, Pravesh Sharma

The Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission has received a complaint from members of the Grace Road Church in relation to the manner in which some of their members were taken into custody by state officials, use of alleged force during detainment, alleged denial of access to a lawyer while detained at the Suva Remand Centre; and the Church being labelled as a cult.

Commission Chair, Pravesh Sharma says one member was also allegedly denied a visa to re-enter Fiji.

He says persons awaiting deportation should be kept in immigration safehouses rather than at remand centres since they have not been charged with offences.

The Commission Chair says detained persons should have access to their lawyers and to other human rights defenders.

Sharma says the Grace Road Church members facing deportation must be given the right to challenge their detention and deportation.

He says they have a legitimate expectation that their rights will be complied with.

Section 13(1)(i) of the Constitution of the Republic of Fiji allows detained persons to challenge the lawfulness of their detention before a court, and if their detention is unlawful, to be released.

Sharma also says the Grace Road Church members should not be deported until the final Appellate Court hears and determines the matter. The Commission is also concerned over the use of the word, ‘cult’ to describe the Grace Road Church as the word can be viewed as derogatory. Sharma says Section 22 of the Constitution of the Republic of Fiji ensures all persons the right to freedom of religion, conscience and belief.

He says the Government Departments and state officials dealing with these matters should comply with the rule of law.

Grace Road Fiji President, Daniel Kim has been declared a prohibited immigrant and is in immigration custody.

Minister for Immigration, Pio Tikoduadua has said the Fiji Government has nothing against Grace Road Group Fiji but it is a matter between the Government of South Korea and the 7 persons that they have identified to be fugitives.

While receiving a petition from more than 20 employees of Grace Road Group, Tikoduadua says the government has it’s obligations based on the relationship with other governments.

He stresses his job is to uphold the law as it will always come first but we should also recognise that there are rights for everyone.

Click here for more Grace Road stories

FEATURE NEWS
15 terabytes of data used to download porn daily in Fiji - Chand
15 terabytes of data is used daily by Fijians to watch porn in the country, and the Government and the Anti-Pornography Task Force will be banning por...
8 hours ago
LATEST NEWS
Waitangi Day celebrated in Suva, highlighting Fiji and NZ's partnership
Fiji has acknowledged the relationship under the Duavata Partnership, through which New Zealand has supported Fiji on economic resilience, security, ...
4 hours ago

Full arms of the law will come down hard on parents selling daughters’ photos – Kiran
The full arms of the law will come down hard on parents and guardians who take photos of their daughters and sell them for money or marriage purposes ...
7 hours ago

Ravu trial : Magistrate Savou says court will reserve judgement until all prosecution witnesses have been produced
After submissions in the abuse of office trial for former Minister for Fisheries and Forests Kalaveti Ravu and Forests Manager Regional North Tekata ...
7 hours ago

Donald Trump signs executive order barring transgender female athletes from competing in women’s sports
US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order today intended to ban transgender athletes from participating in girls' and women’s ...
7 hours ago

Ministry of Housing, Youth and Sports and Police linked to Laqere accident
Following the accident that occurred earlier today at Laqere, it has been confirmed that the vehicles belong to the Ministry of Housing, the Ministry ...
8 hours ago



fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan
Latest Videos

Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
yb
IN DEPTH
Health Minister Dr Lalabalavu on fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan
Health Minister, Doctor Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay ...
1 day ago

PM Rabuka on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay Narayan
Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay Narayan. The in-depth interview will focus on many issues facing the ...
6 days ago

Perth 7s 2025
The Fiji Airways Men’s National 7s side finished in 5th place at the HSBC Perth 7s after defeating France 17-5 in the 5th place ...
6 days ago

TOP