Labasa lawyer takes Feroz Gulam Mohammed to court

Labasa based lawyer Sushil Sharma has filed a civil lawsuit against National Federation Party’s former provisional candidate, Feroz Gulam Mohammed in relation to a video allegedly posted by Mohammed on Facebook last month.

It is alleged that Feroz Gulam Mohammed attacked Attorney General and FijiFirst Secretary Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum in this video by saying that Sayed-Khaiyum has been seen practicing Hinduism and Islam with his demonstration at so many places. 

In the Writ of Summons, Sharma has declared that he is a follower of Hinduism and a member of Naleba Sanatan Dharam Ramayan Gyan Mandir and Satsang Ramayan Mandali in Sigatoka and both mandalis fall under the banner of Shree Sanatan Dharam Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji.

Sharma has filed in court that as a result of the uploading of the video by Feroz Gulam Mohammed, it has created tension, distress and fear for him to attend any other religious activities conducted by his Muslim friends and Christian brothers.

Sharma further says that most of his friends who are Muslims and who were attending Hindu prayers at his house are refusing or neglecting to attend in the fear that they may be classified as trying to change their religion.

The Labasa lawyer says the video uploaded by Feroz Gulam Mohammed  is defamatory and imputes that he being a follower of Sanatan Dharam if he goes to the Mosque or Church, is attempting to practice or follow Islam or Christianity and that he or any other person cannot follow more than one religion.

Sharma further says that the video also imputes that the Sanatan Dharam or Hinduism is downgraded worst religion which no member should join.

Sharma adds that the video also imputes that if a Muslim attends a temple or a Sanatan prayer gathering at his house, then that person has commenced practicing Hinduism or Sanatan religion.

Sharma says the video uploaded by Feroz Gulam Mohammed tantamounts to religious discrimination and is in breach of the Constitution.

In his claims, Sharma says that Court should refrain Feroz Gulam Mohammed from uploading any videos on Facebook or any other site or making any comments about any religion and Police to be directed to carry out a thorough investigation in respect of the videos uploaded by Mohammed.

Sharma also wants Feroz Gulam Mohammed to publically apologize to him and other Sanatan followers together with other religion followers.

He has also claimed for general damages and cost for this action.