THE Fiji Muslim League is alarmed and surprised with reports that Fiji Muslims have been recruited by the Taliban.
League national president Hafizud Dean Khan said their network was not aware of any such association or links and they seriously doubted the credibility of such a claim.
"Muslims in Fiji have no reason to be oppressed as our country has allowed peaceful existence for all faiths," he said.
"Our people have lived peacefully alongside multi-faith and multi-cultural communities for decades, without any feeling of oppression or subjugation. It is difficult to fathom as to why such claims would be forthcoming from any such radical organisations, unless of course it is aimed at boosting their international image by boasting support from far-flung minority groupings such as ours. Muslims in Fiji subscribe to peaceful existence with all their fellow Fijians and, to our knowledge, do not have any leanings towards violence or terrorism," he said.
He also outlined that the League had not sent students to study in madrasas in Pakistan but some people went on their own. "We have our own educational institutions in Fiji," Mr Khan added.