Hate speech targeting Hindus: Pakistani Muslim celebrity attacks Indian Prime Minister with anti-Hindu remark
Pakistan 
4 March, 2023
Case Summary
An anti-Hindu speech targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi was made by former Pakistan cricket captain Saeed Anwar. According to media reports, a viral video circulated on social media in which Saeed Anwar was seen making a stinging attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for stopping his speech during the ‘Azaan’ (call to prayer for Muslims) and described him as a devil (Shaitan). The former Pakistani cricketer also attacked Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who had briefly halted his speech out of respect for the ‘Azaan’ while addressing an election rally in 2022. In the video, Anwar was delivering a sermon before a large gathering at an unidentified location in Pakistan and took a swipe at Modi and Shah for their past gestures of pausing speeches at the time of the ‘Azaan’. Anwar could be heard saying, "It doesn’t matter how many times you stop your speech for Azaan, you will remain a Satan-possessed Hindu."
Why it is Hate Crime ?
The primary category selected in this case is- Hate Speech against Hindus. Within this, 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 other subcategory selected is- Mocking/denigrating Hindu leaders. Hate speech is defined as any speech, gesture, conduct, writing, or display that is prejudicial against a specific individual and/or group of people, which is leading to or may lead to violence, prejudicial action or hate against that individual and/or group. Religious leaders are often seen as representatives of the community, especially, the community’s religious faith and beliefs. Mocking or denigrating a religious leader specifically owing to his religious identity and/or the religious rituals he observes can be considered hate speech because the motivating factor of the speech is animosity and/or dislike for what he represents – the religious beliefs and faith of the community. It is important to note that mere insulting words against an individual do not constitute hate speech. It is entirely possible that insulting words are used for an individual, however, the specific speech is not the result of religious hate and/or animosity towards the professed faith of the religious leader, but the individual himself. For the speech to be considered hate speech, the speech itself or the motivating factor behind the speech has to be religious in nature. Such speech which denigrates Hindu religious leaders specifically owing to animosity towards the faith they profess and the community faith they represent will be treated as hate speech under this category. This case is a clear instance of hate speech against Hindus. The accused, former Pakistan cricketer Saeed Anwar, directed anti-Hindu slurs at Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi by calling him a “Satan-possessed Hindu.” Such language was not merely a political critique but a direct attack rooted in religious identity, showcasing open hostility and animosity towards the Prime Minister for his Hindu faith. When remarks of this nature come from prominent public figures or celebrities, they carry greater weight and influence. By using slurs such as “Shaitan” or “Satan” in reference to Hindus, Anwar contributed to the stigmatisation of the Hindu community at large. Such expressions deepen prejudice and discrimination by casting an entire faith group in a demeaning and negative light. Statements like these have the potential to normalise hate against Hindus. It is also important to note that many Muslim extremists view Narendra Modi as a Hindu leader. Therefore, Anwar’s speech, in which he described him with faith-based slurs as a “Satan-possessed Hindu,” revealed an intent to ridicule him not only as an individual but also as a representative Hindu leader. Such vicious remarks are rooted in immense hatred and disdain for Hinduism, its adherents, and its leaders, making it a religiously motivated hate speech. Given that the attack was explicitly faith-based and aimed at humiliating a Hindu leader for his faith, this incident stands as an example of anti-Hindu hate speech. Therefore, this case is being added to the hate crime database. Disclaimer: Media reports on this case emerged on 6th March 2023, with the video having gone viral on 5th March 2023. Hinduphobia Tracker generally records the date of an incident based on when it occurred, rather than when it went viral on social media or when it was reported by mainstream media. However, for this case, since there are no details specifying the exact date when Saeed Anwar made this hate speech, the date on which the video went viral, 5th March 2023, is being used as an indicative date of the incident.
Case Status
Unknown
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
