Every year, thousands of girls, young women and sometimes men are killed as a result of so-called “Honour Killings”. While there is nothing honorable in this, it is a very disturbing trend that keeps happening in South Asia and elsewhere around the world.

In Mauritius, we are still lucky to live in a peaceful and harmonious nation which does not know this type of crime although we are witnessing a growing number of violent affronts on our mothers and sisters in different forms and shapes. We should do everything in our own capacity to prevent this and to protect them and our loved ones. Mauritians should also be encouraged to take a stance on issues pertaining to human rights.

Ensuring that our national social fabric, our unity and solidarity towards each other is preserved should be among the main objectives of any Government. MPs who represent Lepep, should always be mindful how their words, thoughts and actions can carry important weight. Sometimes, compounded with people’s sentiments and feelings, they can become the fire destabilizing our national harmony.

A video extract that is currently circulating on social media depicting Minister Anil Gayan (former Minister of Foreign Affairs, former Minister of Health and currently Minister of Tourism), intervening at a gathering, where he mentions so called “honour killings” in Pakistan and their relationship to Muslims, and their being “accepted and acceptable” in the “Muslim community” and viewed as “normal” is hurtful and disappointing. This should never have come from a Minister and less so from one who was a “laureate” and educated at prestigious LSE University and a personality who has sat in many international chairs. We would hope that he knows the nuances and subtleties and danger of making generalizations.

We agree that such barbaric acts perpetrated by some individiuals should have no place in Mauritius. But in which capacity and in which context did Mr Gayan mention these? Was it a mistake or misrepresentation? Was it intentional to hurt? Is there a precedent for his behaviour? At another occasion, we heard from Mr Gayan that the drug issue or even unemployment was not alarming in Mauritius, when we all know that the drug problem should be decreed as a national emergency. Same for unemployment among our youths.

The person/group of people who orchestrated this video to come out to the public during the holy month of Ramadan may appear to be a calculated one too. No doubt political scores, gains will also be made by this whole saga. Some winners and losers.

The back and forth finger pointing leading up to the general elections – all in the name of POWER – has clearly started. Let us not let our emotions overtake our logic, reason and our unity. EnForce Maurice! urges the Honourable PM to look into this matter urgently.

Political moves

Mr. Gayan, despite his faults and unacceptable statements, is not, per se, the real issue. The cancer in our country runs deeper. The whole system is corrupt. The issue of instrumentalizing religion or communal groups for political moves – often with the help and backing of people – in Mauritius has become far too real and over time has very firmly ingrained itself in our political DNA. Political parties have continued to play this game too well. This behaviour and cheap bigotry has to stop immediately. Lepep needs to wake up and do their part to fix this. We can be a strong inclusive and secular society which moves forward and still remain diverse with all our religions and beliefs – as well as the perspectives of atheists, agnostics and nonbelievers.

We ask that Mr. Gayan to lead by example, and to take all necessary steps to apologize for his remarks, clarify fully what he meant and did not mean. As a nation, we need to be able to forgive and help people learn from their mistakes and wrong doings. There is no need to call Mr Gayan by dirty names. In the meantime, it would be the right thing for him to step down immediately as Minister, in the national interest.