Derogatory remarks and obscene gestures made against Hindu deities by a Muslim man
Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh, India 
29 December, 2024
Case Summary
A Muslim man made derogatory remarks on Hindu deities during an orchestra event in Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh. He also made vile gestures from the stage. In response to this, an elderly man angrily protested and abused the Muslim man on stage. After the video went viral, BJP leaders filed a police complaint in the Mubarakpur police station in Azamgarh. They demanded strict action against the accused and called it "an insult to Hinduism"
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added as a religiously motivated crime under two prime categories of the Hinduphobia tracker. The first is- Attack on Hindu religious representations and within this, the sub-category selected is- Iconoclastic representation of Hindu Gods/Goddesses. An icon is a symbol of someone or something that is revered, or a religious representation of a spiritual ideal. 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. Any iconoclastic representation of these symbols, images and murtis is an affront to the religious beliefs and faith of the Hindu community itself since the symbols and icons are deeply religious in nature. In this sub-category of crime, we would record hate crimes and iconoclastic representations, in words, art, or any other form of representations of symbols that hold religious significance for the Hindu community. Since these symbols, icons and murtis are central to the Hindu faith, any iconoclastic representation of these symbols is born out of animosity towards the faith itself, manifesting itself through these symbols and therefore, these representations would be considered religiously motivated hated crimes. The second category under which this case has been placed is- Hate speech against Hindus. Within this, the sub-category selected 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. This case has been appropriately categorised as a religiously motivated hate crime due to the explicit targeting of Hindu beliefs through derogatory remarks about Hindu deities and mocking gestures. Such iconoclastic representation seeks to demean and insult the core symbols of the Hindu faith, reflecting an inherent bias and hostility. Additionally, the verbal abuse and offensive gestures constitute anti-Hindu slurs that mock and ridicule the religion, causing deep offence to its adherents. These actions aim to provoke, disrespect, and undermine Hinduism, fitting the definition of religiously motivated hate.
Case Status
Complaint not filed
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
male
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