The unsuccessful attempt to deport members of Grace Road from Fiji has been highlighted in the 2023 report on International Religious Freedom by the US Department of State.
According to the report, Minister for Home Affairs and Immigration Pio Tikoduadua referred to Grace Road as a “cult.”
“In September, authorities issued a deportation order for several members of the Grace Road Church, a South Korean religious group with more than 400 followers,” stated the report.
The report noted that local media indicated this recent action against the church represents a shift in attitude toward its leaders under Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, who won the election in December 2022.
In September, local media reported that Minister for Home Affairs and Immigration Pio Tikoduadua received a petition from employees of Grace Road Group.
In response, Mr. Tikoduadua stated the government had no issues with the group itself but mentioned that the matter involved the Government of the Republic of Korea and individuals identified as fugitives. He highlighted that the Fijian Government has obligations based on its relationships with other governments.
Mr. Tikoduadua criticized the previous administration of Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama for ignoring outstanding Interpol notices for the arrest of Grace Road members, describing the group as a “cult.”
In September, media outlets reported that the chair of Fiji’s Human Rights and Antidiscrimination Commission emphasized that members of the Grace Road Church facing deportation must have the right to challenge their detention and deportation.