Muslim lawyers rejoice, chant "Allah hu Akbar" after former ISKCON priest denied bail

Case ID : b45f567 | Location : Bangladesh | Date of Incident : Wed, 1 January, 2025
Case ID : b45f567
location Bangladesh
date 1 January, 2025
Muslim lawyers rejoice, chant "Allah hu Akbar" after former ISKCON priest denied bail
Hate speech against Hindus
Mocking/denigrating Hindu leaders

Case Summary

After the Chittagong Metropolitan Court denied bail to Chinmoy Krishna Das Prabhu, spokesperson of Bangladesh’s Sanatan Jagaran Manch and former ISKCON priest, Muslim lawyers were seen chanting "Allah hu Akbar" and anti-India slogans. Chinmoy, arrested on alleged sedition charges in November 2024, had been in jail for 42 days. Despite being represented by 11 lawyers, his bail plea was rejected on January 2, 2025. Following the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League government on August 5, 2024, Bangladesh experienced severe political instability. Islamist extremists exploited the chaos, launching widespread violence against the Hindu community. Hindu homes were targeted, set ablaze, and women abducted amid the unrest. Several Hindu temples were destroyed, symbolising a brutal crackdown on the minority community. The escalating violence reflected a growing atmosphere of anarchy, leaving the Hindu population in fear and uncertainty as Islamist mobs acted with impunity.

Why it is Hate Crime ?

This case has been added to the tracker under the prime category of Hate speech against Hindus. Under this, the sub-category 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. The removal of Sheikh Hasina from power in Bangladesh on August 5, 2024, escalated the persecution and marginalisation of the Hindu minority in the predominantly Islamic nation, intensifying what can be described as a silent genocide. Since her ouster, Islamists have carried out unchecked atrocities against Hindus, including physical violence, the destruction of temples and religious symbols, and the systematic displacement of Hindus from their ancestral lands. Over 205 attacks on Hindu temples, shops, and businesses have been recorded following Sheikh Hasina's removal as Prime Minister. Many Hindus have been brutally murdered or injured in these assaults. Following a pattern of attacks on Hindu individuals and religious institutions, ISKCON members have increasingly become targets of aggression in the Muslim-majority nation. These incidents are marked by physical assaults, intimidation, and systemic neglect by authorities, leaving victims without recourse to justice. Amid this, Muslim lawyers were seen chanting "Allah hu Akbar" and anti-India slogans when a Bangladesh court denied bail to Chinmoy Krishna Das Prabhu, spokesperson of Bangladesh’s Sanatan Jagaran Manch and former ISKCON priest. The chanting of anti-India slogans and derogatory remarks against Hindu leaders by Muslim lawyers in the courtroom reflects a deep-seated animosity against Hinduism. This mockery and denigration of Hindu leaders, particularly in the context of a legal proceeding, not only undermines their integrity but also fuels religious hostility. The act of mocking Hindu figures in such a manner constitutes an overt expression of hate against the Hindu community, further highlighting the growing tension and violence faced by Hindus in Bangladesh. Given that the fundamental motivation behind these actions is contempt for Hindus and their religion, this instance has been added to the tracker under the following category.

Victim Details

Total Victim

1

Deceased

0


Gender

  • Male 1
  • Female 0
  • Third Gender 0
  • Unknown 0

Caste

  • SC/ST 0
  • OBC 0
  • General 1
  • Unknown 0

Age Group

  • Minor 0
  • Adult 1
  • Senior Citizen 0
  • Unknown 0
Case Status Background
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Case Status


Unknown

Case Status Background
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Perpetrators Details

Perpetrators


State and Establishment

Perpetrators Range


N/A

Perpetrators Gender


unknown

Case Details SVG
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