A Muslim man was allegedly attacked and forced to leave Pangai Lahi near the royal palace after arriving to offer prayers for the Queen Mother during her takipō on Wednesday morning at around 4am.
Thousands of Christian mourners gathered in a large marque tent outside the palace to pray for the matriarch’s soul.
An eyewitness Sēmisi Fūnaki uploaded a photo of the incident to Facebook and said it took place while they were about to enter the royal palace for the prayer vigil.
He confirmed the incident to Kaniva News.
He claimed the Muslim, who was known by the name Peka Tea of Teʻekiu, arrived and began spreading out something on the grass apparently for his prayer ceremony.
Fūnaki, a student at Siaʻatoutai Theological College, claimed the soldier at the gate had allegedly attacked Tea and smashed his stuff forcing him to leave the palace ground.
The photo had received more than thousand likes and hundred shares and comments as of today Sunday 5.
Some commentators felt for the man and said the way he was forced to leave showed mere hatred and hostility towards Islam and Muslims.
But some said the Muslim was insistent to get in and the soldier was doing his job.
Ten Christian and protestant churches including two groups and the royal family offered a series of prayer vigil during the Queen Mother’s takipō which began on Tuesday evening at 6pm until 6am on Wednesday morning.
The prayer vigil was conducted by the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga, Catholic Church, Tonga Tauʻatāina Church, Anglican Church, Church of Tonga, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Tōkaikolo Fellowship, Assemblies of God and the Constitution Church.
The two groups were from the Siaʻatoutai Theological College and Ālonga Centre which was founded by the Queen Mother.
Tongan authority could not be reached for comment.
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