Attack on Hindu sentiments: American Christian man denigrates construction of Hindu temple in United States
Asheville, North Carolina, United States 
31 October, 2025
Case Summary
In the United States, an anti-Hindu remark was made by a Christian man named Matt Van Swol. This took place amidst the construction of a planned Murugan temple in North Carolina. According to media reports, a large statue of Lord Murugan, a revered Hindu deity, is planned as part of a Hindu temple complex being built in Moncure, North Carolina. The statue is expected to be 155 feet (about 47 metres) tall, making it taller than the Statue of Liberty. Regarding this, the accused, Matt Van Swol, a former nuclear scientist with the United States Department of Energy, posted on X (formerly Twitter): “🚨HOLY CRAP!!! Hindus in North Carolina have acquired over 130 acres of residential land and are CURRENTLY building a MASSIVE temple with plans for a 155-foot statue of Lord Murugan, the Hindu god of war. The statue will be taller than the Statue of Liberty... WHAT?!!!!!!!” He further added, “Well done to @stephenehorn who broke this story... I had no idea this was happening. Beyond insane. Oh my gosh…”
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. The incident involving Matt Van Swol’s remarks against the planned Murugan temple in North Carolina constitutes an instance of anti-Hindu hate speech. His reaction to the temple’s construction, expressed through words such as “holy crap”, “this is insane”, and “oh my gosh”, reflected hostility and contempt towards the Hindu faith. The very tone and language of his comments mocked the legitimate religious aspirations of the Hindu community, which sought to build a temple dedicated to Lord Murugan, a widely revered deity representing divine strength, virtue, and protection. Hindu temples are not just architectural projects but sacred spaces embodying the presence of the divine. They serve as cultural and spiritual centres where Hindus gather for worship, festivals, and community harmony. Criticising or ridiculing the creation of such a sacred temple demonstrates more than casual prejudice; it exposes deep-seated religious animosity toward Hindu beliefs and practices. This attitude mirrors a pattern of hostility that seeks to marginalise and delegitimise Hindu identity in public spaces. Therefore, the derogatory reaction directed toward the construction of the Murugan temple must be recognised as an expression of anti-Hindu sentiment. It exemplifies how bigoted attitudes can manifest through dismissive or contemptuous language, targeting a community’s right to practise and represent its faith openly. This incident highlights the persistence of Hinduphobia in social discourse, where Hindu religious expressions are met not with tolerance or respect but with mockery and intolerance. Therefore, 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
male
Sources 
