Idol of revered Hindu deity demolished by Thai authorities in Preah Vihear, Cambodia
Preah Vihear Province, Cambodia 
21 December, 2025
Case Summary
In the An Ses area of Cambodia’s Preah Vihear province, near the border with Thailand, an idol of Lord Vishnu, a revered Hindu god, was demolished by Thai authorities. This occurred on 22nd December 2025 amidst a border dispute between Cambodia and Thailand, yet Thai authorities targeted and demolished a Hindu religious symbol. The statue had been erected in 2014. Cambodia condemned the act as an assault on religious heritage, while India expressed deep concern over the disrespectful destruction. The Thai government claimed that the statue stood in Thai territory occupied by Cambodia, whereas the Cambodian government insisted it lay within their borders. Cambodian government spokesman Kim Chanpanha stated that the site lay 100-400 metres inside Cambodian territory. He declared, “We condemn the destruction of ancient temples and statues worshipped by Buddhist and Hindu followers.” Earlier, Thailand issued no official comment on the incident, but Thai social media users and military-affiliated sources described the demolition as the removal of an illegal Cambodian structure built to assert territorial claims in a disputed zone secured by Thai forces. Following this, Bangkok issued a statement, claiming that the idol was razed for “security purposes” and not to hurt Hindu sentiments. The conflict between both countries centred on longstanding disputes along the 800-kilometre border, including areas near historic Khmer sites like the UNESCO-listed Preah Vihear Temple, awarded to Cambodia by International Court of Justice rulings in 1962 and 2013. The conflict caused dozens of deaths, widespread displacement, and damage to cultural sites from both sides. Both nations share a profound Hindu-Buddhist cultural legacy, with deities like Vishnu integrated into Thai religious practices. Thailand nonetheless demolished Lord Vishnu’s statue under the pretext of a border dispute. Following this, on 24th December 2025, India’s Ministry of External Affairs issued a formal statement. It declared that such disrespectful acts must not occur, as they hurt the sentiments of followers worldwide. The Ministry of External Affairs stated, “We saw reports on the demolition of a statue of a Hindu religious deity, built in recent times, and located in an area affected by the ongoing Thai-Cambodia border dispute. Hindu and Buddhist deities are deeply revered and worshipped by people across the region, as part of our shared civilisational heritage.” The statement added, “Notwithstanding territorial claims, such disrespectful acts hurt the sentiments of followers around the world, and must not take place. We once again urge the two sides to return to dialogue and diplomacy, to restore peace and avoid any further loss of lives, and damage to property and heritage.”
Why it is Hate Crime ?
The primary category selected in this case is- Attack on Hindu religious representations. The subcategory selected is- Desecration of Hindu religious symbol. Icons and symbols or a religious representation of a spiritual ideal are widely revered in Hinduism. 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. Since these Hindu religious symbols hold paramount importance in Hinduism, any desecration of symbols, icons, murtis, religious representations and manifestations, is driven by animosity towards the faith itself which manifests itself through these murtis, icons and symbols. Therefore, any desecration of these Hindu religious symbols and representations is considered religiously motivated hate crimes under this category. In this case, the demolition of Lord Vishnu's revered idol by Thai authorities constitutes a blatant, religiously motivated hate crime against Hindus. This desecration targeted a consecrated symbol of Hindu faith, demonstrating hatred and deliberate intent to undermine Hindu sentiments. Thai authorities knowingly violated the idol's sanctity, viewed by Hindus as a living divine embodiment, to demean and intimidate the Hindu community, echoing historical iconoclasm designed to humiliate Hinduism and its followers. Lord Vishnu holds a supreme position in Hinduism as the universe's preserver within the Trimurti, incarnating as avatars like Rama and Krishna to uphold dharma and safeguard devotees. His idols, consecrated through prana pratishtha rituals, manifest his divine presence as murtis, forming sacred centres for worship, darshan, and puja that connect Hindus to cosmic order. These symbols demand absolute reverence; their destruction profanes Hindu faith, making it a religiously motivated crime. This desecration inflicts profound psychological and spiritual trauma on Hindus globally, cementing its status as a religiously motivated hate crime. Witnessing a deity's idol smashed delivers visceral pain, shattering devotees' security and fostering fear and alienation. Generations transmit Vishnu devotion through these murtis; their violation ruptures this sacred bond, sparking collective grief akin to personal bereavement, as evidenced by international fury that exposes intent to assault Hindu identity. Some may dismiss the incident as mere fallout from a Thailand-Cambodia border dispute, but this overlooks clear evidence of religious targeting. Both nations share a profound Hindu-Buddhist heritage, with Vishnu's iconography embedded in Thai temples, art, and festivals honouring his avatars. Thai culture seamlessly integrates Vishnu worship, making the selective demolition of his idol impossible to justify as routine territorial action. The Thai authorities spared other structures yet destroyed this Hindu symbol, revealing supremacist drives to dominate Hinduism and humiliate its adherents. This case fulfils all criteria of a religiously motivated hate crime and has been added to the Hinduphobia Tracker's hate crime database.
Case Status
Unknown
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
State and Establishment
Perpetrators Range
Unknown
Perpetrators Gender
unknown
Sources 
