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Days to Mauritius’ General Elections, Religious Leaders Condemn Social Media Shutdown

Members of the Council of Religions (CoR) in Mauritius. Credit: CoR

Religious leaders in the Indian Ocean Island nation of Mauritius have expressed concern about the government’s recent decision to restrict access to social media platforms, days before the country’s general elections scheduled for November 10.

On November 1, Mauritius' communications regulator ordered all Internet service providers to suspend the service until November 11, a day after the upcoming general elections, Reuters reported.

In a statement issued on November 3, members of the Council of Religions (CoR) in Mauritius express their solidarity with individuals “whose livelihoods depend on social media”, saying the Internet shutdown could have serious repercussions on their daily lives.

“It is with deep sadness that the members of the Council of Religions take note of what is currently happening in our country. We are also deeply moved by the distress of those whose livelihoods depend on social media. We cannot remain silent,” they say.

The religious leaders add, “We are confronted with conflicting opinions regarding the need to limit freedom of expression. We feel as if we are navigating in a fog.”

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CoR members call for “full clarity” around the decision, which they say has received mixed reactions.

“We wish for full clarity and transparency, to enable us to see clearly and establish the truth,” the faith-based leaders in Mauritius say.

They underscored the importance of maintaining peace and mutual respect during the upcoming election period, adding, “In these troubled times, it is crucial to remain focused on what constitutes our common good – namely, our democracy and our harmonious coexistence.” 

In their statement, CoR members also call on Mauritians to exercise wisdom and avoid actions that could damage the country’s “social fabric”.

“We reiterate our calls for calm and place our trust in the wisdom of the Mauritian people to avoid any actions that could further harm the social fabric,” CoR members say.

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They implore, “We pray that peace and mutual respect continue to be fundamental values of our shared life together.”

On October 23, CoR members underscored the importance of peace, integrity, and accountability ahead of the November 10 polls.

Earlier, on October 18, faith-based leaders in the Indian Ocean Island nation emphasized the importance of voting as a “sacred duty” and called for responsible participation in the country’s general elections.

Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for Catholic Church communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea in Cameroon. Currently, Jude serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.