Goat meant for Bakrid scribbled with "Ram" by Muslim shop owner
Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India 
14 June, 2024
Case Summary
Ahead of Bakrid 2024, an incident in Navi Mumbai's Central Business District of Belapur sparked outrage among Hindus. A goat, meant for sacrifice, had the name "Ram" inscribed on its back in yellow, offending Hindu religious sentiments. The goat was discovered outside the "Goodluck Goat Meat Shop," owned by Muhammad Shafi. On June 15, members of a Hindu organisation recorded a video of the goat and reported it to the authorities, who then took the goat into custody. The video went viral on social media, showing an argument between the shopkeeper and the Hindu group, with police trying to manage the situation. The police filed a case against the shop owner, who was detained, and the shop was closed until further notice.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the prime category- Hate speech against Hindus and under this, the sub-category chosen is- Anti-Hindu slurs, mocking faith- Anti-Hindu slurs and the deliberate mocking of the Hindu faith owing to religious animosity involve the usage of derogatory terms, stereotypes, or offensive references to religious practices, symbols, or figures. One of the common anti-Hindu slurs used against Hindus is “cow-worshipper” and “cow piss drinker”. The intention of using this term is to demean and mock Hindus as a group and their religious beliefs since Hindus consider the cow holy. Additionally, some symbols and the slurs attached to them have a historical context that exacerbates the insult, hate, stereotyping, dehumanisation and oppression against Hindus. Cow worship has been used for centuries to denigrate Hindus, insult their faith and oppress Hindus specifically as a religious group. There has been overwhelming documentation about how cow slaughter has been used to persecute Hindus with cow meat being thrown in temples and places of worship. There has also been overwhelming documentation where cow meat (beef) has been force-fed to Hindus to either forcefully convert them to Islam or denigrate their faith. Apart from cow worship, the Swastika – which holds deep religious significance for the Hindus – has also been misinterpreted and distorted to use as a slur against Hindus. Similarly, the worship of the Shivling has been used by supremacist ideologies and religions to denigrate Hindus owing to religious animosity. Such slurs and denigration stem out of inherent animosity and hate towards Hindus and their faith, therefore, it is categorised as hate speech targeted at Hindus specifically owing to their religious identity. Scribbling "Ram," one of the most revered gods in Hinduism, on a goat meant for slaughter during Bakrid can be seen as a deliberate attempt to mock and denigrate the faith of Hindus. In Hinduism, Lord Ram holds a sacred and central place, symbolizing virtue, righteousness, and devotion. By associating his name with an animal intended for sacrifice, an act contrary to Hindu beliefs, the accused not only disrespected religious sentiments but also engaged in a symbolic act of mockery. This act can be classified as a hate crime, as it appears to stem from deep-seated animosity toward Hinduism, with the clear intention of provoking and offending the Hindu community. Further, the act of writing "Ram" on a sacrificial goat due for slaughter is also a symbolic message that the Muslim extremists intends to, or at the very least, would want, Hindus and their faith slaughtered.
Case Status
Arrested
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
