Hindu faith, its religious symbols and sacred temple denigrated by American Christian conservative woman
New York, United States 
14 February, 2023
Case Summary
In the United States, anti-Hindu remarks that targeted and mocked the Hindu faith, its religious symbols, such as the holy cow, and Hindu temples, such as the Karni Mata Temple, were made by a Christian American woman named Ann Coulter. The accused was a conservative political commentator and author. According to media outlets, on Wednesday, 15 February 2023, conservative political commentator Ann Coulter went on a racist and anti-Hindu tirade against Indian-origin Nikki Haley, an accountant and former United States Ambassador to the United Nations, who was a Christian by faith. During her appearance on ‘The Mark Simone Show’ podcast, Ann Coulter made multiple derogatory references to Hindu traditions and sentiments. She mockingly said, “What’s with the worshipping of the cows? They’re all starving over there (India), and they’re (Hindus) worshipping cows? Do you know they (Hindus) have a rat temple where they worship rats?”, referring to the Karni Mata Temple located in Deshnoke, Rajasthan — a temple dedicated to the local goddess Karni Mata, where rats are revered and fed as part of religious practice. The accused further added, “Hey, babycakes (Nikki Haley), why don’t you go back to your own country and reconsider that history?”
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the primary category- Hate Speech against Hindus. The subcategory 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. In this case, it is first important to note that in Hinduism, the cow is a sacred and revered symbol deeply embedded in religious belief and cultural practice. It represents non-violence, motherhood, and nourishment, as the cow provides milk, which is essential to life and rituals. Hindus view the cow as a caretaker and a symbol of generosity and selflessness. Any attempt to mock or denigrate the reverence of cows is a direct attack on Hindu values and sentiments, constituting a clear instance of anti-Hindu hate speech aimed at discrediting and disrespecting a significant religious tradition. The accused, Ann Coulter’s comments mocking the worship of cows by Hindus, are an explicit form of anti-Hindu hate speech. By trivialising and ridiculing the sacred status of the cow, she not only disrespects the faith but also fuels religious animosity, which can deepen communal divides and hurt Hindu sentiments. Such disdainful remarks attempt to undermine the faith and traditions of millions, making them not merely offensive but hateful in their intent and impact. Such remarks are a result of deep-seated animosity towards the Hindu community and their faith, making it a religiously motivated hate speech. Additionally, Ann Coulter’s reference to the Karni Mata temple as a "rat temple" where rats are worshipped mocks a sacred Hindu temple dedicated to the goddess Karni Mata. This temple is a revered pilgrimage site where rats are regarded as sacred beings and cared for as part of religious practice. The veneration of rats within this specific temple is a unique religious tradition that holds deep cultural and spiritual significance for Hindu devotees. The accused's act of denigrating the temple and its practices reflects deep-seated religious animosity and constitutes a clear case of religiously motivated hate speech. Mocking such religious symbols causes profound hurt to Hindu religious feelings and undermines the cultural heritage they cherish. Such actions are rooted in disdain and hatred for Hinduism, making it a clear example of anti-Hindu hate speech. Given that both of these instances—mocking the sacred cow and denigrating the Karni Mata temple and its unique religious traditions—meet the parameters of religiously motivated hate speech, this case is being added to the hate-crime database of the Hinduphobia Tracker.
Case Status
Unknown
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Christian Extremists
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
female
Sources 
