Fiji Sees Rise in Attacks on Places of Worship Amid Calls for Interfaith Dialogue

Recent incidents of religious intolerance in Fiji, including desecration of holy books and damage to places of worship, have raised significant concern among community leaders who stress the need for dialogue, protection of sacred sites, and swift justice to maintain social harmony. Similarly, Kazakhstan's Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, set for September 2025, underscores the critical role of interfaith dialogue in addressing global challenges such as extremism, ethical governance, and social division. In Ghana, political leaders and commentators warn against the dangers of tribal bigotry, emphasizing that such divisions erode democracy, trust in institutions, and national unity, while calling for moral leadership that transcends ethnic and religious lines. The backlash in Ghana to divisive remarks by political figures highlights widespread public rejection of ethno-religious bigotry and the imperative for leaders to focus on shared values and unity. Indian actor John Abraham reflects on the hyper-political environment marked by religious divisions, cautioning against simplistic and jingoistic portrayals in films that exploit such tensions rather than promote nuanced understanding. Across these contexts, there is a common call for collective responsibility, moral courage, and inclusive dialogue to counter religious and ethnic intolerance and uphold social cohesion.