Azad Riyazuddin Ansari makes derogatory post about Lord Ganesha
Valsad, Gujarat, India 
16 September, 2023
Case Summary
On September 17, 2018, during Ganeshotsav, one Azad Riyazuddin shared an offensive photo and derogatory comments about Lord Ganesha on social media. Along with the photo, he also wrote a text making offensive and derogatory comments about the Hindu deity. He had shared an edited photo of a dog petting a statue of Lord Ganesha along with offensive commentary ‘Ganeshji ki pooja karta kutta’. A case was registered against him for hurting Hindu sentiments. Valsad City Police arrested him the next day under relevant sections of the IPC and IT Act. The case went to the Additional Magistrate Court of Valsad, where Ansari's guilt was established. After 5 years, the court convicted him under relevant sections, sentencing him to 3 years in prison and imposing a fine of Rs 50,000.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the hate tracker under two prime categories, namely, 'Attack on Hindu religious symbols' and 'Hate speech against Hindus'. The sub-category chosen within the first prime category is- Iconoclastic representation of Hindu Gods/Goddesses- An icon is a symbol of someone or something that is revered, or a religious representation of a spiritual ideal. 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. Any iconoclastic representation of these symbols, images and murtis is an affront to the religious beliefs and faith of the Hindu community itself since the symbols and icons are deeply religious in nature. In this sub-category of crime, we would record hate crimes and iconoclastic representations, in words, art, or any other form of representations of symbols that hold religious significance for the Hindu community. Since these symbols, icons and murtis are central to the Hindu faith, any iconoclastic representation of these symbols is born out of animosity towards the faith itself, manifesting itself through these symbols and therefore, these representations would be considered religiously motivated hated crimes. Further, the sub-category chosen under 'Hate speech against Hindus' 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. Here, a Muslim man shared an offensive photo and derogatory comments about Lord Ganesha, one of the most revered gods in Hinduism, on social media. This act of sharing a distorted and disrespectful representation of the Hindu deity is a clear example of iconoclasm aimed at mocking the Hindu faith. Such depictions not only hurt religious sentiments but also reflect a deep-rooted animosity toward Hinduism. By ridiculing a revered deity during an important festival like Ganeshotsav, Riyazuddin's actions reveal an intent to provoke and demean Hindus and their religious beliefs. These kinds of acts are not merely disrespectful but are also an intentional effort to insult and belittle the faith of Hindus. Given that the fundamental motivation behind this incident is contempt for the Hindu religion, this instance has been added to the tracker under the following category.
Case Status
Perpetrator held guilty by court
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
