Mayaro MP Rushton Paray says the recent vandalism at the Bharatiya Vidya Abhyas Mandali Temple is “nothing short of a hate crime” and one cannot afford to “shy away from labelling attacks on religious places of worship as hate crimes.”
He did so in a release yesterday commenting on the vandalism of the
Bharatiya Vidya Abhyas Mandali temple in Watts Street, Curepe, on Wednesday in which six murtis were desecrated.
Paray added, “As a society, we must unequivocally condemn the recent attack on the temple as nothing short of a hate crime. The recent deliberate destruction of religious symbols and desecration of sacred spaces cannot be dismissed as mere vandalism or random acts of violence. It is a targeted assault on the Hindu community and an affront to the principles of tolerance and respect that we hold dear,”
“We cannot afford to shy away from labelling attacks on religious places of worship as hate crimes. Doing so not only diminishes the severity of the offence but also fails to recognise the underlying bigotry and intolerance that motivate such actions. By accurately identifying these incidents as hate crimes, we send a clear message that such behaviour will not be tolerated..”
He added, “ We cannot turn a blind eye to the actions of a minority of individuals who seek to sow discord and division through acts of violence and intimidation. It’s incumbent upon us as leaders and as a society to confront these acts head-on and hold those responsible accountable for their actions. I call upon law enforcement agencies to thoroughly investigate this attack and to pursue appropriate charges under hate crime legislation. “
The Anjuman Sunnatul Jamaat Association (ASJA) has also condemned the desecration of the temple.
In a statement yesterday morning, ASJA said it condemned, “this reprehensible action in the strongest terms possible.”
“Our society, built upon the principles of respect, tolerance, and coexistence among various religious communities, cannot tolerate such cowardly acts of vandalism and disrespect towards places of worship,” ASJA asserted.
The statement further said, “We stand in solidarity with our Hindu brothers and sisters, and with all those who have been affected by this unfortunate incident. We share in their pain and outrage, and we extend our heartfelt sympathies to them during this difficult time.”
The incident marked yet another in a series of attacks against religious entities and places of worship in recent months.