Human rights groups in Fiji have called on community leaders to shut down all forms of hate speech following the mosque attacks in Christchurch.
The chair of the NGO Coalition for Human Rights Nalini Singh said there've been strong expressions in Fiji of sympathy and solidarity for the people of New Zealand, Christchurch and the Muslim community.
A typical street scene in Nadi, Fiji Photo: RNZ / Koroi Hawkins
But she said racism, xenophobia, and Islamophobia are also rearing their ugly head on some of Fiji's social media platforms and in its communities as well.
Ms Singh said the comments are worrying and the onus is on leaders to ensure their statements of solidarity turn into action.
"We are strongly calling on everyone to behave responsibly. There's a responsibility on all of us to call out and shut down any forms of racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia that we see and witness," said Nalini Singh.
