Idols of Goddess Durga vandalised ahead of Durga Puja by Muslim man in Bangladesh; accused's mother claims he was 'mentally challenged'
Mymensingh, Mymensingh District, Bangladesh 
24 September, 2024
Case Summary
Ahead of Durga Puja, a 22-year-old radical Muslim man, Yasin Mia, vandalized idols of Goddess Durga and other Hindu deities in Gouripur town, Mymensingh district, Bangladesh, on 25th September. Mia entered the Gobindajew temple in the early hours and began destroying the idols, which had been sculpted for 20 days in preparation for Durga Puja, which began on 9th October. While attempting to remove the idols, Mia was spotted by a local Hindu woman, Dolly Rani, who raised an alarm. Two men, Akhil Chandra Bishwasharma and Bipul Ghosh, apprehended him, and he was handed over to the police. Mia was arrested the following morning on 26th September. The desecration shocked the local Hindu community, as the idols were almost complete, with only the final painting stage left. Mia’s mother, Mina Akhtar, later claimed her son was mentally challenged.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the prime category- Attack on Hindu religious symbols. Under this, the sub-category selected is- Desecration of Hindu religious symbol. Icons and symbols or a religious representation of a spiritual ideal are widely revered in Hinduism. Iconography is of vital significance in the Hindu milieu. It helps connect people’s spiritual beliefs with the real world. Iconography within the Hindu faith takes several shapes and forms. Murtis are of most significance to Hindus, to which daily rituals, prayers and offerings are done. Besides the murtis, there are several other symbols which have deep significance in the Hindu faith – the Om and Swastika for example. Since these Hindu religious symbols hold paramount importance in Hinduism, any desecration of symbols, icons, murtis, religious representations and manifestations, is driven by animosity towards the faith itself which manifests itself through these murtis, icons and symbols. Therefore, any desecration of these Hindu religious symbols and representations is considered religiously motivated hate crimes under this category. The other sub-category this case is being added to is 'attack on temples'. In Hinduism, a temple is the abode of the Deity and the place of worship is of paramount spiritual importance. The Deity in the Temple is consecrated, thereby, making it a real, breathing entity. Hindus believe that not just the Deity but the temple premises itself are sacred to Hindus since Hindus hold the faith that the entire Temple space is an amalgamation of the divine energy of the deity. Given the central significance of Temples in Hindu Dharma, any attack against a Hindu Temple or its peripheral premises is an attack on the faith itself and is born out of animosity towards the faith, of which, the Temple is a central tenet. Any manner of attack against a Temple and/or its premises would therefore be considered a religiously motivated hate crime. Durga Puja is one of the most revered festivals for Hindus, and the act of desecrating idols is an affront to the religious sentiments of the Hindu community and the sanctity of their places of worship. Such acts are not isolated but reflect a disturbing pattern of attacks against Hindu religious practices, which are often motivated by animosity towards the faith and its adherents. In this case, the accused mother tried to whitewash and downplay the communal nature of the crime by claiming that Yasin was mentally unstable. This claim represents a common trope used to deflect attention from the religious motivations behind hate crimes against Hindu places of worship, portraying the act as stemming from mental illness rather than religious animosity. This narrative has appeared repeatedly in cases targeting Hindus and their religious symbols, obscuring the true intent of religious hatred. However, this explanation rang hollow in this instance. If the accused was truly mentally unstable, why did he target only a Hindu temple for desecration and not a mosque or other non-Hindu places of worship? This selective targeting of a Hindu temple exposed deep-seated hatred for Hinduism and its sacred spaces, confirming the religiously motivated nature of the offence The intent behind this act could only possibly be that of provoking Hindus and showing disrespect towards their faith. Such acts are a result of deep-seated animosity towards Hinduism and the Hindu community. Therefore, this case is being added to the hate crime database of the tracker.
Case Status
Arrested
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
