Attack on Hindu symbols: Muslim journalist subtly mocks sindoor after Indian army launched 'Operation Sindoor' following Pahalgam terror attack
Delhi, India 
6 May, 2025
Case Summary
The Indian army carried out ‘Operation Sindoor’, destroying nine terrorist camps in Pakistan in response to the brutal faith-based killings of Hindus in Pahalgam. In the Pahalgam terror attack, Pakistan-backed Islamic terrorists had singled out Hindu victims by asking their religion, resulting in the deaths of a total of 26 people. The military operation was a firm retaliation aimed at dismantling the terror infrastructure responsible for the Pahalgam terror attack. Following the operation, Arfa Khanum Sherwani, a Muslim journalist of 'The Wire', a leftist-Islamist news portal, covertly expressed disapproval, particularly with the name given to the mission and the imagery used by the Indian army to describe the mission. She claimed that the army was influenced by social media and the sindoor imagery, and the name of the operation was the result of that influence. In this manner, she subtly mocked the Sindoor, a Hindu religious symbol worn by married women. Arfa also stated that India had attacked unarmed Pakistani civilians. According to her, no terrorist was killed. She described Kashmir as being “sandwiched” between India and Pakistan. It is noteworthy that the name ‘Operation Sindoor’ was chosen because the terrorists killed Hindu men after religiously profiling them and spared Hindu women, telling them, “Go tell Modi.” The symbolism of sindoor, traditionally worn by married Hindu women, was thus invoked in the naming of the military operation.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the primary category of - Hate Speech against Hindus. Within this, the sub-category 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. In this case, it is important to note that the name of the operation was chosen 'Operation Sindoor' because of the symbolic reference to sindoor, traditionally worn by married Hindu women. This was linked to the act of the Muslim terrorists who spared Hindu women during the Pahalgam attack. However, Arfa Khanum expressed an indirect disapproval. She lamented that social media influenced the army's decision on imagery and the choice of the name of the operation. Prima facie, the language used by Arfa might appear sophisticated, but the subtle contents of hate-driven signalling are visible. It is crystal clear that Arfa wanted to convey that the army was influenced by a dominant Hindu narrative visible on social media. The dismissal of the sindoor and the subtle mockery are not hidden. Sindoor is not merely an accessory; it carries profound cultural and spiritual significance within Hinduism. For Hindu women, it symbolises marital status, fidelity, and the sacred bond with their husbands. It is also intrinsically tied to the idea of auspiciousness and well-being in a woman’s married life, serving as a visible expression of respect, devotion, and cultural continuity. To dismiss the choice of the name of this operation as nothing more than a product of “social media narrative” was, in effect, a mockery of sindoor. Such dismissal trivialises a deeply significant religious symbol and undermines its meaning for millions of Hindu women. Within the Hindu community, sindoor is not a fashion item but a sacred marker of identity, reverence, and cultural belonging. Therefore, even subtle ridicule or casual dismissal of the term 'sindoor' is an affront to the religious and cultural identity of Hindus. Henceforth, this incident is being documented in the hate crime database.
Case Status
Unknown
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
female
Sources 
