Sat: We are not against Christians

FED UP with the failure of politicians to scrap the Trinity Cross, the Maha Sabha will on Tuesday ask the High Court to rule that the nation’s highest honour is discriminatory to non-Christians. Maha Sabha general-secretary, Sat Maharaj, yesterday announced this at a media conference at the group’s St Augustine headquarters, accompanied by fellow applicant, Islamic Relief Centre CEO, Inshan Ishmael. He distributed to reporters copies of the writ for a constitutional motion filed last Tuesday by attorney Haresh Ramnath against the Attorney General, which will be heard Tuesday before Justice Peter Jamadar in the San Fernando High Court. Jamadar will decide if Maharaj and Ishmael have made out a prima facie case. The Maha Sabha wants a ruling that the Trinity Cross breaches a person’s right to freedom of religion under the national Constitution, Section 4.

The writ argues that the Trinity Cross is discriminatory because non-Christians are constructively denied by their religions from accepting it, and that the highest award in a community of diverse religions must not contain a Christian symbol. Maharaj told reporters that he hoped the writ could break new ground by introducing a concept of indirect discrimination. “Although non-Christians are not prohibited or excluded from receiving the Trinity Cross, the sad reality is that there are many who will not or cannot consent to nomination, or accept this award because it conflicts with their religious beliefs. “Why should Muslims, Hindus and other non-Christians be forced to ignore, deny or suppress their religious belief so that they can accept their nation’s highest award?”

Maharaj said the issue was not a case against the Christian community, but against the State. He assured he had consulted persons in the Christian community, many whom had given their silent support. “We believe that our Christian brothers and sisters fully understand that we object to the Trinity Cross in the same way as Christians would object to accepting a national award that is represented by an “Om” or by a “Moon and Star,” (respectively the symbols of Hinduism and Islam). Maharaj said he intended to make the issue go international, even inviting British lawyers to observe the court case. He said he would reconsider litigation, if the Government indicates its willingness to implement the findings of the report by the committee under former chief justice, Michael de la Bastide, appointed by the former UNC government to examine the controversy.