#GRAVITAS | The U.S. state of Georgia has proposed a bill to formally recognise Hinduphobia and anti-Hindu prejudice via legislation. This marks the first such statutory measure taken by any US state. Watch this video to find out more.

Georgia is the 1st us state to add hinduphobia to its list of hate crimes

The state of Georgia in the United States has introduced a bill to formally recognise Hinduphobia and anti-Hindu prejudice, becoming the first state to do so. If it becomes law, the penal code in Georgia will be updated and consequently enable law enforcement agencies to consider Hinduphobia and take appropriate action. The development is crucial as Indian-origin lawmakers have been flagging rising cases of Hindu-hatred in the U.S.
The bill, SB 375, dated April 4, was introduced in the Georgia General Assembly, the state legislature, and its sponsors include both Democrats and Republicans. Georgia State Senate members Shawn Still and Clint Dixon, both Republicans, and Jason Esteves and Emanuel Jones, both Democrats, were the four sponsors.
Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/we-never-negotiate-on-gunpoint-indian-minister-piyush-goyal-on-trumps-90-day-pause-on-reciprocal-tariffs-8952081">&lsquo;We never negotiate on gunpoint&rsquo;: Indian Minister Piyush Goyal on Trump&rsquo;s 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs</a> &ldquo;Over the past few years, we have seen a marked increase in hate crimes against Hindus across the country,&rdquo; said Shawn Still, who introduced the bill. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m9d3vgjv-cif2yjwk-82t7m28v">
Thank you <a href="https://twitter.com/SenShawnStill?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SenShawnStill</a> for your leadership in tackling the growing problem of Hinduphobia and ensuring freedom of religion for ALL your constitutents. We are proud to have partnered with you and your colleagues to build awareness on this critical issue. We urge everyone to&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/7Aft8d05wO">pic.twitter.com/7Aft8d05wO</a>
&mdash; CoHNA (Coalition of Hindus of North America) (@CoHNAOfficial) <a href="https://twitter.com/CoHNAOfficial/status/1910484726445711720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 11, 2025</a></blockquote>
 The bill seeks to introduce a new section to the Georgia state government code that defines &lsquo;Hinduphobia&rsquo; as a &lsquo;set of antagonistic, destructive, and derogatory attitudes and behaviours towards Hinduism.&rsquo; It would require state and local law enforcement agencies to enforce anti-discrimination laws while investigating potential discrimination cases. &ldquo;Senator Still has always been a staunch supporter of the Hindu community and has stood with us during the tough times we faced. His commitment has been a beacon of hope for all the Hindus across the US. We are extremely thankful to him for his relentless pursuit of justice and equality,&rdquo; said Rajeev Menon, founder of the Hindus of Georgia PAC.&nbsp;
Huge shoutouts to Senator Shawn Still and all the members and supporters of the Hindus of Georgia PAC, whose tireless efforts over the years to defend and protect the civil rights of the Hindu community led to this bill, said Dhiru Shah, a senior community leader and a board member of the PAC. &ldquo;We are proud to work closely with Senator Shawn Still on this important bill and thank him, along with Senator Emanuel D. Jones, Senator Jason Esteves, and Senator Clint Dixon, for supporting the needs of the Hindu community in Georgia and the United States,&rdquo; said the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA), an advocacy organisation.
Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-78-to-undergo-checkup-says-never-felt-better-will-his-reports-be-made-public-8951391" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Trump, 78, to undergo checkup, says &lsquo;never felt better&rsquo;; will his reports be made public?</a> CoHNA said the bill builds upon the important work that we started in April 2023 when the Georgia General Assembly passed a resolution condemning Hinduphobia. The resolution stated that Hinduism is one of the largest and oldest religions in the world, with over 1.2 billion adherents in over 100 countries, and embodies diverse traditions and beliefs with values of peace, mutual respect, and acceptance. According to the 2023&ndash;24 Pew Research Center Religious Landscape Study, there are about 2.5 million Hindus in the US. Indian-American leaders have been raising concerns about the rise in Hinduphobia in the US. 
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IMPORTANT UPDATE: The State of Georgia has introduced SB 375, which formally updates the state's penal code to recognize Hinduphobia and anti-Hindu prejudice, and enables law enforcement and other agencies to consider Hinduphobia while cataloging such discrimination and taking&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/0TKGgtGb8x">pic.twitter.com/0TKGgtGb8x</a>
&mdash; CoHNA (Coalition of Hindus of North America) (@CoHNAOfficial) <a href="https://twitter.com/CoHNAOfficial/status/1910392233129365780?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2025</a></blockquote>
 &ldquo;Georgia becomes the first state in introducing such a bill, and if passed, will make history once again. We look forward to advocating for this bill once the Georgia legislative session reopens. Stay tuned for more updates,!&rdquo; said CoHNA in a post on X.
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World: The bill seeks to introduce a new section to the Georgia state government code that defines ‘Hinduphobia’ as a ‘set of antagonistic, destructive, and derogatory attitudes and behaviours towards Hinduism.’

The state of Georgia in the United States has introduced a bill to formally recognise Hinduphobia and anti-Hindu prejudice, becoming the first state to do so. If it becomes law, the penal code in Georgia will be updated and consequently enable law enforcement agencies to consider Hinduphobia and take appropriate action. The development is crucial as Indian-origin lawmakers have been flagging rising cases of Hindu-hatred in the U.S. The bill, SB 375, dated April 4, was introduced in the Georgia General Assembly, the state legislature, and its sponsors include both Democrats and Republicans. Georgia State Senate members Shawn Still and Clint Dixon, both Republicans, and Jason Esteves and Emanuel Jones, both Democrats, were the four sponsors. Also Read | ‘We never negotiate on gunpoint’: Indian Minister Piyush Goyal on Trump’s 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs “Over the past few years, we have seen a marked increase in hate crimes against Hindus across the country,” said Shawn Still, who introduced the bill. Thank you @SenShawnStill for your leadership in tackling the growing problem of Hinduphobia and ensuring freedom of religion for ALL your constitutents. We are proud to have partnered with you and your colleagues to build awareness on this critical issue. We urge everyone to… pic.twitter.com/7Aft8d05wO — CoHNA (Coalition of Hindus of North America) (@CoHNAOfficial) April 11, 2025 The bill seeks to introduce a new section to the Georgia state government code that defines ‘Hinduphobia’ as a ‘set of antagonistic, destructive, and derogatory attitudes and behaviours towards Hinduism.’ It would require state and local law enforcement agencies to enforce anti-discrimination laws while investigating potential discrimination cases. “Senator Still has always been a staunch supporter of the Hindu community and has stood with us during the tough times we faced. His commitment has been a beacon of hope for all the Hindus across the US. We are extremely thankful to him for his relentless pursuit of justice and equality,” said Rajeev Menon, founder of the Hindus of Georgia PAC. Huge shoutouts to Senator Shawn Still and all the members and supporters of the Hindus of Georgia PAC, whose tireless efforts over the years to defend and protect the civil rights of the Hindu community led to this bill, said Dhiru Shah, a senior community leader and a board member of the PAC. “We are proud to work closely with Senator Shawn Still on this important bill and thank him, along with Senator Emanuel D. Jones, Senator Jason Esteves, and Senator Clint Dixon, for supporting the needs of the Hindu community in Georgia and the United States,” said the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA), an advocacy organisation. Also Read | Trump, 78, to undergo checkup, says ‘never felt better’; will his reports be made public? CoHNA said the bill builds upon the important work that we started in April 2023 when the Georgia General Assembly passed a resolution condemning Hinduphobia. The resolution stated that Hinduism is one of the largest and oldest religions in the world, with over 1.2 billion adherents in over 100 countries, and embodies diverse traditions and beliefs with values of peace, mutual respect, and acceptance. According to the 2023–24 Pew Research Center Religious Landscape Study, there are about 2.5 million Hindus in the US. Indian-American leaders have been raising concerns about the rise in Hinduphobia in the US. IMPORTANT UPDATE: The State of Georgia has introduced SB 375, which formally updates the state's penal code to recognize Hinduphobia and anti-Hindu prejudice, and enables law enforcement and other agencies to consider Hinduphobia while cataloging such discrimination and taking… pic.twitter.com/0TKGgtGb8x — CoHNA (Coalition of Hindus of North America) (@CoHNAOfficial) April 10, 2025 “Georgia becomes the first state in introducing such a bill, and if passed, will make history once again. We look forward to advocating for this bill once the Georgia legislative session reopens. Stay tuned for more updates,!” said CoHNA in a post on X. Also Read | Pentagon fires Greenland base commander over criticism of VP JD Vance’s visit

US' State of Georgia introduces bill to recognise Hinduphobia and anti-Hindu prejudice

"Cows, curry and caste," that is how British media perceives Indians and Hindus, revealed a survey. In the United Kingdom, a survey of British Indians and Hindus found that most members of the community face prejudice, due to their misrepresentation in the UK media's "colonial" focus on them.

<h2>Surprising survey findings</h2>

A nationwide survey by INSIGHT UK, an organisation that "aims to address the concerns of the British&nbsp;Hindu and British Indian (BHI) communities," has revealed shocking data. Conducted between November 2022 and February 2023, it had 2,061 respondents.

It found that 59 per cent of survey participants reported that they had either witnessed prejudice or experienced it due to British media reports on Hindus and Hinduism. &nbsp;&nbsp;

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About 70 per cent of survey respondents said that this is a result of negative perceptions of India and Indians created by the British media.

89 per cent of survey participants felt that the British media "lacks&nbsp;impartiality when it comes to reporting on matters pertaining to the&nbsp;Hindu community." A further 91 per cent felt that reporting on India is not balanced.&nbsp;

<h2>The least trustworthy India, Hindu-related news sources as per the survey</h2>

The survey found "a particular distrust" of the British Broadcasting&nbsp;Corporation (BBC), with more than 90 per cent of those surveyed saying that they "perceive the BBC as the most unreliable source of&nbsp;information concerning Hinduism and India."

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Coming up second as the most-unreliable news source on these topics is The Guardian. As per the survey report, the two publications also boast the "highest number of complaints raised&nbsp;against them by BHI community members." Here BHI refers to British&nbsp;Hindu and British Indian (BHI) communities.

The numbers are alarming given the sheer number of BHI members in the UK. As per the 2021 census, in&nbsp;England and Wales alone there are 1.03 million Hindus and 1.86 million Indians.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

"Cows, curry and caste," that is how British media perceives Indians and Hindus, revealed a survey. In the United Kingdom, a survey of British Indians and Hindus found that most members of the community face prejudice, due to their misrepresentation in the UK media's "colonial" focus on them.

"Cows, curry and caste," that is how British media perceives Indians and Hindus, revealed a survey. In the United Kingdom, a survey of British Indians and Hindus found that most members of the community face prejudice, due to their misrepresentation in the UK media's "colonial" focus on them. Surprising survey findings A nationwide survey by INSIGHT UK, an organisation that "aims to address the concerns of the British Hindu and British Indian (BHI) communities," has revealed shocking data. Conducted between November 2022 and February 2023, it had 2,061 respondents. It found that 59 per cent of survey participants reported that they had either witnessed prejudice or experienced it due to British media reports on Hindus and Hinduism. Also read | Released Hamas hostage Mia Schem reveals the 'only reason' she wasn't raped About 70 per cent of survey respondents said that this is a result of negative perceptions of India and Indians created by the British media. 89 per cent of survey participants felt that the British media "lacks impartiality when it comes to reporting on matters pertaining to the Hindu community." A further 91 per cent felt that reporting on India is not balanced. The least trustworthy India, Hindu-related news sources as per the survey The survey found "a particular distrust" of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), with more than 90 per cent of those surveyed saying that they "perceive the BBC as the most unreliable source of information concerning Hinduism and India." Also read | Hong Kong tycoon Jimmy Lai pleads not guilty to charges of conspiracy in national security trial Coming up second as the most-unreliable news source on these topics is The Guardian. As per the survey report, the two publications also boast the "highest number of complaints raised against them by BHI community members." Here BHI refers to British Hindu and British Indian (BHI) communities. The numbers are alarming given the sheer number of BHI members in the UK. As per the 2021 census, in England and Wales alone there are 1.03 million Hindus and 1.86 million Indians. (With inputs from agencies)

British media’s Hinduphobia, focus on cows, curry and caste leading to prejudice against Indians in UK: Survey

The government of Canada, in its official response to a Hinduphobia petition before the House of Commons, said it “rejects all forms of hate and discrimination and believes all Canadians must stand up against it where and whenever it is encountered.”

However, the petitioners were left disappointed by the response of the government, which was issued by its Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities Kamal Khera. The response was signed by Khera's Parliamentary Secretary Sameer Zuberi.&nbsp;

<h2>Canadian government's response is frustrating: Petitioner</h2>

Speaking about the response of the government, the person who moved the petition Brampton-based Vijay Jain said, "The response from the Government is very frustrating.”&nbsp;

He emphasised that the government's response although met the request in the petition for recognising Hinduphobia as a term in the Human Rights Code's glossary of terms describing anti-Hindu prejudice and discrimination for defining Hinduphobia as denial, prejudice, vilification or negation against Hindus, Hinduism, or Hinduness and for raising awareness and addressing systemic and institutional Hinduphobia.

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He said that although Canada's human rights code was “prescriptive” when it came to Islamophobia and anti-Semitism, similar steps have not been applied against increasing Hinduphobia. “This itself shows systemic discrimination against Hindus in Canada,” Jain said.&nbsp;

Jain said that he and other community groups had called for a meeting with Khera but did not get any appointment as of yet.

The government, in its response, thanked the petitioner “for expressing their concerns regarding the growing negative stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination of Hindus in Canada.”

The petition had collected 25,794 signatures as against the 500 required to elicit a formal response from the government. Conservative Party MP Melissa Lantsman, while presenting the petition in the House of Commons on November 3, said, “Canadian Hindus are facing growing negative stereotypes, prejudice, discrimination, at work, in schools and in their communities while traditions and cultures are misrepresented and misunderstood.”

Watch:&nbsp;Gravitas | Canada: 3 theatres playing Hindi movies attacked

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The petition was backed by a total of 81 community organisations, which include major temples. The petition attracted attention after a video was released by secessionist group Sikhs for Justice or SFJ in September which targeted Canadian Hindus of Indian origin. SFJ's&nbsp;Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, in the viral video, said, “Indo-Hindus leave Canada, go to India.”&nbsp;

“You not only support India but you are also supporting the suppression of speech and expression of pro-Khalistan Sikhs,” Pannun said, while adding that they were “also promoting violence by celebrating” Nijjar’s “assassination.” He was speaking about the plot to kill SFJ's leader and terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Canada's government, led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, has accused India of plotting against Nijjar.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

The government of Canada, in its official response to a Hinduphobia petition before the House of Commons, said it “rejects all forms of hate and discrimination and believes all Canadians must stand up against it where and whenever it is encountered.

The government of Canada, in its official response to a Hinduphobia petition before the House of Commons, said it “rejects all forms of hate and discrimination and believes all Canadians must stand up against it where and whenever it is encountered.” However, the petitioners were left disappointed by the response of the government, which was issued by its Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities Kamal Khera. The response was signed by Khera's Parliamentary Secretary Sameer Zuberi. Canadian government's response is frustrating: Petitioner Speaking about the response of the government, the person who moved the petition Brampton-based Vijay Jain said, "The response from the Government is very frustrating.” He emphasised that the government's response although met the request in the petition for recognising Hinduphobia as a term in the Human Rights Code's glossary of terms describing anti-Hindu prejudice and discrimination for defining Hinduphobia as denial, prejudice, vilification or negation against Hindus, Hinduism, or Hinduness and for raising awareness and addressing systemic and institutional Hinduphobia. Also read: India rejects 'secret memo' report over 'crackdown' against Khalistani terrorists He said that although Canada's human rights code was “prescriptive” when it came to Islamophobia and anti-Semitism, similar steps have not been applied against increasing Hinduphobia. “This itself shows systemic discrimination against Hindus in Canada,” Jain said. Jain said that he and other community groups had called for a meeting with Khera but did not get any appointment as of yet. The government, in its response, thanked the petitioner “for expressing their concerns regarding the growing negative stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination of Hindus in Canada.” The petition had collected 25,794 signatures as against the 500 required to elicit a formal response from the government. Conservative Party MP Melissa Lantsman, while presenting the petition in the House of Commons on November 3, said, “Canadian Hindus are facing growing negative stereotypes, prejudice, discrimination, at work, in schools and in their communities while traditions and cultures are misrepresented and misunderstood.” Watch: Gravitas | Canada: 3 theatres playing Hindi movies attacked The petition was backed by a total of 81 community organisations, which include major temples. The petition attracted attention after a video was released by secessionist group Sikhs for Justice or SFJ in September which targeted Canadian Hindus of Indian origin. SFJ's Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, in the viral video, said, “Indo-Hindus leave Canada, go to India.” “You not only support India but you are also supporting the suppression of speech and expression of pro-Khalistan Sikhs,” Pannun said, while adding that they were “also promoting violence by celebrating” Nijjar’s “assassination.” He was speaking about the plot to kill SFJ's leader and terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Canada's government, led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, has accused India of plotting against Nijjar. (With inputs from agencies)

Trudeau's Canada sees Hinduphobia petition amid row with India over Nijjar's killing

The state of Georgia in the United States&nbsp;has officially designated October as ‘Hindu Heritage Month’ to recognise and celebrate the contributions of the 'vibrant' Hindu-American community within the state.&nbsp;

As per news agency PTI, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp issued a proclamation declaring October as the month to celebrate 'Hindu heritage'. The proclamation said that the celebration will focus on Hindu heritage's culture and spiritual traditions rooted in India.

<h2>Significant contributions</h2>

The proclamation dated August 23 said: "The vibrant Hindu American community has contributed tremendously to the vitality of the State of Georgia by enriching the lives of its citizens."

Earlier this year, the state's Assembly had passed a resolution condemning Hinduphobia. The resolution made Georgia the first American state to take legislative action against anti-Hindu bigotry.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/georgia-becomes-first-american-state-to-condemn-hinduphobia-passes-resolution-577885">Georgia becomes first American state to condemn Hinduphobia, passes resolution</a>

The resolution acknowledged the Hindu community's contributions like Yoga, Ayurveda, meditation, food, music, and arts, and how they helped enrich American society's cultural fabric and the lives of millions.

<h2>Hindu advocacy group welcomes decision</h2>

Hindu advocacy group, Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA), welcomed Georgia's move and expressed gratitude to Governor Kemp for acknowledging and recognising the Hindu community's contributions to the many sectors.

Taking to X, formerly Twitter, the group said: "This was made possible by the untiring dedication of our friends at the Hindus of Georgia PAC. Hinduism has contributed greatly to the cultural milieu of America."

However, the group as per PTI, the group also expressed concern over the recent anti-caste discrimination bill passed by the California State Assembly.&nbsp;

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It highlighted the contradiction between Georgia's recognition and the passage of #SB403, which, as per the news agency report, seeks to combat caste discrimination and strengthen protections for marginalised communities across the state.

"It is gratifying to see Georgia recognise the contribution of Hindu-Americans and Hinduism at the same time that California is targeting us with #SB403," said CoHNA on X.

Hindu Heritage Month, according to the Hindu American Foundation, is celebrated globally to highlight Hinduism as a tradition and its contributions to human society. Hinduism is the third-largest religion globally with around one billion devotees, there are approximately three million Hindus residing in the United States.

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
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The state of Georgia in the United States has officially designated October as ‘Hindu Heritage Month’ to recognise and celebrate the contributions of the 'vibrant' Hindu-American community within the state.

The state of Georgia in the United States has officially designated October as ‘Hindu Heritage Month’ to recognise and celebrate the contributions of the 'vibrant' Hindu-American community within the state. As per news agency PTI, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp issued a proclamation declaring October as the month to celebrate 'Hindu heritage'. The proclamation said that the celebration will focus on Hindu heritage's culture and spiritual traditions rooted in India. Significant contributions The proclamation dated August 23 said: "The vibrant Hindu American community has contributed tremendously to the vitality of the State of Georgia by enriching the lives of its citizens." Earlier this year, the state's Assembly had passed a resolution condemning Hinduphobia. The resolution made Georgia the first American state to take legislative action against anti-Hindu bigotry. Also read | Georgia becomes first American state to condemn Hinduphobia, passes resolution The resolution acknowledged the Hindu community's contributions like Yoga, Ayurveda, meditation, food, music, and arts, and how they helped enrich American society's cultural fabric and the lives of millions. Hindu advocacy group welcomes decision Hindu advocacy group, Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA), welcomed Georgia's move and expressed gratitude to Governor Kemp for acknowledging and recognising the Hindu community's contributions to the many sectors. Taking to X, formerly Twitter, the group said: "This was made possible by the untiring dedication of our friends at the Hindus of Georgia PAC. Hinduism has contributed greatly to the cultural milieu of America." However, the group as per PTI, the group also expressed concern over the recent anti-caste discrimination bill passed by the California State Assembly. Also read | India tells US to unfreeze funds of two firms accused of trading with Russia It highlighted the contradiction between Georgia's recognition and the passage of #SB403, which, as per the news agency report, seeks to combat caste discrimination and strengthen protections for marginalised communities across the state. "It is gratifying to see Georgia recognise the contribution of Hindu-Americans and Hinduism at the same time that California is targeting us with #SB403," said CoHNA on X. Hindu Heritage Month, according to the Hindu American Foundation, is celebrated globally to highlight Hinduism as a tradition and its contributions to human society. Hinduism is the third-largest religion globally with around one billion devotees, there are approximately three million Hindus residing in the United States. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

US state Georgia recognises October as ‘Hindu Heritage Month’

Georgia has passed a resolution condemning 'Hinduphobia' - or fear of the Hindu minority community in the US. This makes it the first US state to take an official stand against anti-Hindu bigotry in the region. Calling hinduism one of the world's largest and oldest religions with over 1.2 billion followers across 100 countries, the resolution further acknowledged the american Hindu community's contribution to diverse sectors, such as medicine, science, spirituality and information technology among others.

Georgia officially condemns 'Hinduphobia', says 'it is one of the world's oldest religions' | WION

Here, we bring you the news that is trending across WION's social media platforms - Georgia becomes first American State to pass resolution condemning 'Hinduphobia', Chinese colleges give love-themed spring break, Biden calls Mississippi town 'rolling stone' instead of 'rolling fork'.

Georgia becomes first American State to pass resolution condemning 'Hinduphobia' | Trending On WION

The US state of Georgia and its House of Representatives recently passed a resolution condemning Hinduphobia and anti-Hindu bigotry, becoming the first American state to bring forth such a measure.

The US state of Georgia and its House of Representatives recently passed a resolution condemning Hinduphobia and anti-Hindu bigotry, becoming the first American state to bring forth such a measure. The resolution, introduced by Representatives Lauren McDonald and Todd Jones from Forsyth County in the suburbs of Atlanta, stated that Hinduism is one of the world's largest and oldest religions, having over 1.2 billion followers. "Hinduphobia, as described by the Understanding Hinduphobia Initiative, is "a set of antagonistic, destructive, and derogatory attitudes and behaviours towards Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism) and Hindus that may manifest as prejudice, fear, or hatred." The resolution attempted to build upon a report by Rutgers University published last year that stated that there had been a noticeable increase in anti-Hindu disinformation. ALSO READ | Hindu temples attacked in Texas and Melbourne, hate crime suspected "In July 2022, a report released by Rutgers University titled "Anti-Hindu Disinformation: A Case Study of Hinduphobia on Social Media" detailed how hate messages in social media translate into real life threats for people of the Hindu faith," read the resolution. In the Rutgers report, it was noted that "white supremacist and 4chan genocidal Pepe memes about Hindus" were "being shared prolifically within extremist Islamist web networks on messaging service Telegram and elsewhere." WATCH | Indian PM Modi raises temple vandalism in Australia with PM Albanese during bilateral talks × The resolution added that Hinduphobia and its related instances were being ‘exacerbated’ by some in academia who supported dismantling of Hinduism whilst propagating the belief that the sacred texts and cultural practices within the religion were based on violence and oppression. The recent spate of attacks on Hindu temples across the world have raised serious question marks over the safety of Hindus. From Canada to Australia, numerous incidents of vandalism of Hindu temples have been recorded since the beginning of the year. ALSO READ | India fumes after Hindu temple in Canada gets defaced According to the Hindu advocacy group Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA), Forsyth County is home to one of the largest Hindu and Indian-American diaspora communities in the state. “We urged for their help in combating such bigotry which advances hatred and creates the idea that Hindus and people of Indian-origin need special laws and monitoring due to allegations around some inherent propensity to discriminate,” said CoHNA General Secretary Shobha Swamy (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Georgia becomes first American state to condemn Hinduphobia, passes resolution

Following communal clashes in Leicester and Birmingham after an India-Pakistan cricket match, the UK's opposition Labour Party vowed to combat hate crimes of all sorts in its first straight use of the word 'Hinduphobia'.&nbsp;

Speaking to hundreds of British Indians on Wednesday night at one of Europe's largest Navratri celebrations in London, Labour leader Keir Starmer said he was committed to halting "divisive politics" and extremist forces using social media to sow division among communities.

According to several diaspora organisations in the UK, the unrest in Leicester last month was a manifestation of Hinduphobia or hate crimes against Hindus, which were made worse by false information on social media.&nbsp;

Starmer declared to a loud applause, "Hinduphobia has absolutely no place in our society anywhere and we must all fight this together."&nbsp;

"I know that many people are targeted based on their religion and there's been a rise in hate crimes in recent years. I'm so tired of our divisive politics. I'm saddened by the division we have seen on the streets of Leicester and Birmingham in recent weeks; violence and hatred spread by extremists exploiting social media. We must all together stand firm against all attempts to spread hate," he said.

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The opposition leader noted that it was his first time attending Dussehra celebrations in London and spoke of the deeper significance of Navratri as embodied in Goddess Durga's resilience and strength, which signifies the importance of the female divine and women's empowerment. Starmer has been quite obviously trying to reverse his predecessor Jeremy Corbyn's stance towards India and its diaspora perceived as less India-friendly.&nbsp;

After '12 long years',&nbsp;the Labour Party would be the government on the side of the people, said Starmer, criticising the ruling Conservative Party for bringing the nation to the brink of collapse. The opposition party has been preparing for the UK's upcoming general election, which is scheduled for roughly 2024, and seeking to take advantage of the recent bounce&nbsp;in opinion polls amid declining Tory popularity over an ongoing economic crisis.

(with inputs from agencies)

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Following communal clashes in Leicester and Birmingham after an India-Pakistan cricket match, the UK's opposition Labour Party vowed to combat hate crimes of all sorts in its first straight use of the word 'Hinduphobia'.

Following communal clashes in Leicester and Birmingham after an India-Pakistan cricket match, the UK's opposition Labour Party vowed to combat hate crimes of all sorts in its first straight use of the word 'Hinduphobia'. Speaking to hundreds of British Indians on Wednesday night at one of Europe's largest Navratri celebrations in London, Labour leader Keir Starmer said he was committed to halting "divisive politics" and extremist forces using social media to sow division among communities. According to several diaspora organisations in the UK, the unrest in Leicester last month was a manifestation of Hinduphobia or hate crimes against Hindus, which were made worse by false information on social media. Starmer declared to a loud applause, "Hinduphobia has absolutely no place in our society anywhere and we must all fight this together." "I know that many people are targeted based on their religion and there's been a rise in hate crimes in recent years. I'm so tired of our divisive politics. I'm saddened by the division we have seen on the streets of Leicester and Birmingham in recent weeks; violence and hatred spread by extremists exploiting social media. We must all together stand firm against all attempts to spread hate," he said. Also Read: Famous moai statues 'irreparably' damaged due to Easter Island fire The opposition leader noted that it was his first time attending Dussehra celebrations in London and spoke of the deeper significance of Navratri as embodied in Goddess Durga's resilience and strength, which signifies the importance of the female divine and women's empowerment. Starmer has been quite obviously trying to reverse his predecessor Jeremy Corbyn's stance towards India and its diaspora perceived as less India-friendly. After '12 long years', the Labour Party would be the government on the side of the people, said Starmer, criticising the ruling Conservative Party for bringing the nation to the brink of collapse. The opposition party has been preparing for the UK's upcoming general election, which is scheduled for roughly 2024, and seeking to take advantage of the recent bounce in opinion polls amid declining Tory popularity over an ongoing economic crisis. (with inputs from agencies)

Leicester clashes: UK opposition leader says, 'We must fight Hinduphobia'

U.S. Report: Sharp rise in Anti-Hindu Sentiment on social media What are the key findings? Why is Big Tech failing to curb religious hatred? Why is Hinduphobia on the rise? Watch WION Wideangle with our experts.

WION Wideangle: Hinduphobia: on the rise?

US researchers from Rutgers University, in their latest report, have said that there has been a substantial increase in "anti-Hindu disinformation" on social media and messaging services. According to experts, the investigation revealed that over the past few years, hate speech against the Hindu community has grown mostly unnoticed on social media.

White nationalist and 4chan genocidal Pepe memes about Hindus are widely disseminated via extreme Islamist web networks on messaging app Telegram and elsewhere, according to the study "Anti-Hindu Disinformation: A Case Study of Hinduphobia on Social Media."

Artificial intelligence was employed by researchers at the Rutgers NC Lab to better understand how a coded and masked linguistic pattern spread on social media.

Not all tweets that are anti-Hindu come from Pakistan. Researchers discovered Iran and other nations have state-sponsored information operations. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/bangladeshi-cop-assaults-hindu-woman-for-wearing-bindi-police-probe-on-468131">Also read | Bangladeshi ‘cop’ assaults Hindu woman for wearing bindi, police probe on</a>

According to their analysis of 1 million tweets, Iranian trolls spread anti-Hindu stereotypes to sow discord as part of an influence campaign to accuse Hindus of committing a genocide against minorities in India.

Watch | Gravitas: Hindu Temple attacked in Karachi

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Data collection and analysis were done in collaboration with high school students from the New Jersey Governors' STEM Scholars programme. They instructed them on open-source intelligence gathering, machine learning for detecting cyber-social threats, and the dimensions of anti-Hindu misinformation.

Given the rising religious tensions in India and the recent execution of an Indian shopkeeper, the signal on anti-Hindu code phrases and memes reached record highs in July and may be fueling an outburst of real-world violence. Even though this hatred is on the rise, social media sites are usually unaware of the code phrases, key imagery, and systematic nature of it.

Notably, India requested that the UN recognise "Hinduphobia" and other crimes of religious prejudice against Buddhism and Sikhism in January 2022.

At a virtual meeting hosted by the Global Counter-Terrorism Centre (GCTC) in Delhi, India's ambassador to the UN, TS Tirumurti, urged the international organisation to recognise threats against Jews, Sikhs, and Hindus.

In order to combat this issue, Tirumurti had stated that the "emergence of contemporary varieties of religiophobia, especially anti-Hindu, anti-Buddhist, and anti-Sikh phobias is a topic of great worry."

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US researchers from Rutgers University, in their latest report, have said that there has been a substantial increase in "anti-Hindu disinformation" on social media and messaging services.

US researchers from Rutgers University, in their latest report, have said that there has been a substantial increase in "anti-Hindu disinformation" on social media and messaging services. According to experts, the investigation revealed that over the past few years, hate speech against the Hindu community has grown mostly unnoticed on social media. White nationalist and 4chan genocidal Pepe memes about Hindus are widely disseminated via extreme Islamist web networks on messaging app Telegram and elsewhere, according to the study "Anti-Hindu Disinformation: A Case Study of Hinduphobia on Social Media." Artificial intelligence was employed by researchers at the Rutgers NC Lab to better understand how a coded and masked linguistic pattern spread on social media. Not all tweets that are anti-Hindu come from Pakistan. Researchers discovered Iran and other nations have state-sponsored information operations. Also read | Bangladeshi ‘cop’ assaults Hindu woman for wearing bindi, police probe on According to their analysis of 1 million tweets, Iranian trolls spread anti-Hindu stereotypes to sow discord as part of an influence campaign to accuse Hindus of committing a genocide against minorities in India. Watch | Gravitas: Hindu Temple attacked in Karachi Data collection and analysis were done in collaboration with high school students from the New Jersey Governors' STEM Scholars programme. They instructed them on open-source intelligence gathering, machine learning for detecting cyber-social threats, and the dimensions of anti-Hindu misinformation. Given the rising religious tensions in India and the recent execution of an Indian shopkeeper, the signal on anti-Hindu code phrases and memes reached record highs in July and may be fueling an outburst of real-world violence. Even though this hatred is on the rise, social media sites are usually unaware of the code phrases, key imagery, and systematic nature of it. Notably, India requested that the UN recognise "Hinduphobia" and other crimes of religious prejudice against Buddhism and Sikhism in January 2022. At a virtual meeting hosted by the Global Counter-Terrorism Centre (GCTC) in Delhi, India's ambassador to the UN, TS Tirumurti, urged the international organisation to recognise threats against Jews, Sikhs, and Hindus. In order to combat this issue, Tirumurti had stated that the "emergence of contemporary varieties of religiophobia, especially anti-Hindu, anti-Buddhist, and anti-Sikh phobias is a topic of great worry." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Anti-Hindu quotes, hate speech and Hinduphobia: US report finds rise in anti-Hindu disinformation

India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, T.S. Tirumurti has asked the United Nations to recognise 'Hinduphobia' & violence against Sikhs, Buddhists just like they do with Abrahamic religions.

India calls for the UN to recognise 'Hinduphobia' & violence against Sikhs, Buddhists

Tulsi Gabbard, United States Representative from Hawaii on Thursday said that she has been accused of fascism and have experienced 'Hinduphobia' directly in each of my campaigns for Congress and this presidential race.

"Unfortunately, Hinduphobia is very real. I've experienced it directly in each of my campaigns for Congress &amp; in this presidential race. Here's just one example of what Hindus face every day in our country. Sadly, our political leaders &amp; media not only tolerate it, but foment it," Gabbard tweeted.

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Unfortunately, Hinduphobia is very real. I've experienced it directly in each of my campaigns for Congress &amp; in this presidential race. Here's just one example of what Hindus face every day in our country. Sadly, our political leaders &amp; media not only tolerate it, but foment it. <a href="https://t.co/60MDtszQHf">https://t.co/60MDtszQHf</a>
— Tulsi Gabbard 🌺 (@TulsiGabbard) <a href="https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1235633239936638983?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 5, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Tulsi also retweeted a Facebook post of a person about a confrontation with an Uber driver accusing Hindus of murdering Muslims in recent Delhi communal riots.

Hinduphobia or anti-Hindu sentiment is a negative perception, sentiment or actions against the people of Hindu religion.

The riots which rattled New Delhi&nbsp;for over three days killing over 50 people started on February 24 as a clash between groups supporting and opposing the new Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

Tulsi Gabbard, United States Representative from Hawaii on Thursday said that she has been accused of fascism and have experienced 'Hinduphobia' directly in each of my campaigns for Congress and this presidential race.

Tulsi Gabbard, United States Representative from Hawaii on Thursday said that she has been accused of fascism and have experienced 'Hinduphobia' directly in each of my campaigns for Congress and this presidential race. "Unfortunately, Hinduphobia is very real. I've experienced it directly in each of my campaigns for Congress & in this presidential race. Here's just one example of what Hindus face every day in our country. Sadly, our political leaders & media not only tolerate it, but foment it," Gabbard tweeted. Unfortunately, Hinduphobia is very real. I've experienced it directly in each of my campaigns for Congress & in this presidential race. Here's just one example of what Hindus face every day in our country. Sadly, our political leaders & media not only tolerate it, but foment it. https://t.co/60MDtszQHf — Tulsi Gabbard 🌺 (@TulsiGabbard) March 5, 2020 × Tulsi also retweeted a Facebook post of a person about a confrontation with an Uber driver accusing Hindus of murdering Muslims in recent Delhi communal riots. Hinduphobia or anti-Hindu sentiment is a negative perception, sentiment or actions against the people of Hindu religion. The riots which rattled New Delhi for over three days killing over 50 people started on February 24 as a clash between groups supporting and opposing the new Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

Hinduphobia is very real, I've experienced in each of my campaigns: Tulsi Gabbard

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