Hindu religious sentiments mocked; religious flags displayed on a Hindu family’s property desecrated and dumped in garbage
Queens Village, New York, United States 
19 April, 2025
Case Summary
In Queens Village, New York, USA, a Hindu flag displayed on a Hindu family’s property was desecrated and thrown into the garbage by an unidentified man. According to a report by India Today, Hindu flags were commonly seen outside the homes of Hindu families as part of their religious observances in the area. On the day of the incident, the unidentified man trespassed onto the Hindu family's property and removed four Hindu flags. He then discarded them in the garbage. The New York Police Department (NYPD) began an investigation and called this case a hate crime. The NYPD released surveillance images of the suspect and appealed to the public for any information related to the incident, providing a confidential tip line for leads. The desecration sparked concerns among Indian-American leaders about the rising tide of Hinduphobia in the United States. During a 2024 meeting with Hindu leaders and organisations, Democrat Congressman Shri Thanedar stated, “We see a lot of Hinduphobia,”. He called for proactive measures to address the increasing hate crimes targeting Hindus across the country.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the prime category of- Attack on Hindu religious representation. Under this, the sub-category 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. This case is categorised under the hate crime database, as the unidentified aggressor deliberately targeted and desecrated Hindu religious flags and symbols. The religious flags placed outside a Hindu family's house were pulled out and thrown in the dustbin. In Hinduism, deities and religious symbols are considered sacred. Because of their spiritual, cultural, and historical importance in Hinduism, religious flags are powerful emblems of Hindu identity. It is seen as an insult to the Hindu faith to desecrate such flags or any other Hindu religious symbol, and anyone who engages in such criminal activity would only do so out of hatred for Hinduism. Such behaviour stems from entrenched hostility and an intent to insult the Hindu faith. These attacks on Hindu religious sentiments clearly reflect targeted animosity towards Hindus and Hinduism, and are therefore categorised as a hate crime. It is important to mention here that even the New York police have called this incident a case of hate crime. Considering that the United States is a majority-Christian country, the perpetrator could have expressed similar hostility towards Christian symbols. However, the aggression was selectively directed at a Hindu religious symbol, indicating animosity towards Hindus and Hinduism. This incident constitutes a hate crime and is a stark example of rising Hinduphobia in the United States.
Case Status
Complaint filed
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Unknown
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
