Khalistani calls Hindu god Hanuman ‘first international terrorist’
India 
25 March, 2023
Case Summary
A video of a Khalistani protest from an undisclosed location was posted on TikTok on March 26. During the protest, the speaker disparaged the Hindu god Hanuman. Calling Lord Hanuman a “terrorist”, the Khalistani speaker lashed out at those who call Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale a terrorist. The video was shared on Twitter by Canada-based user Pritam Singh.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the hate tracker under the prime category of 'Hate speech against Hindus'. Under 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 stems out of inherent animosity and hates towards Hindus and their faith, therefore, it is categorised as hate speech targeted at Hindus specifically owing to their religious identity. The statement by a Khalistani individual referring to the Hindu god Hanuman as the "first international terrorist" is a blatant case of mocking the Hindu faith. Hanuman, revered as a symbol of devotion, strength, and loyalty in Hinduism, holds a sacred place in the religion. To label a deity with such derogatory terms reflects deep-seated animosity and an attempt to demean Hindu beliefs. This comment not only disrespects a central figure in Hindu worship but also seeks to provoke and insult the sentiments of millions of Hindus. Since such acts are rooted in hostility toward Hinduism this case is being categorised as a hate crime.
Case Status
Unknown
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Sikh Extremists
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
