India noticed a large 62% rise in anti-Muslim hate speech within the second half of 2023 in comparison with the primary six months of the yr, in line with a latest examine.
Washington-based analysis group India Hate Lab mentioned Monday that the Israel-Gaza conflict performed a key function within the final three months.
The group documented 668 hate speech incidents concentrating on Muslims in 2023, 255 of which occurred within the first half of the yr whereas 413 occurred within the final six months of 2023, the analysis group mentioned in a report launched Monday.
About 75%, or 498, of these incidents occurred in states ruled by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in line with the report.
The states of Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh accounted for probably the most hate speech.
Between Oct. 7 – when Palestinian resistance group Hamas carried out an incursion of Israel, sparking the battle within the Gaza Strip as Israel retaliated – and Dec. 31, there have been 41 incidents of hate speech in opposition to Indian Muslims that talked about the conflict, the report added. It accounted for about 20% of hate speech within the final three months of 2023.
The analysis group mentioned it used the United Nations’ definition of hate speech – prejudiced or discriminatory language in direction of a person or group primarily based on attributes together with faith, ethnicity, nationality, race or gender.
Rights teams have alleged mistreatment of Muslims underneath Modi, who turned prime minister in 2014 and is broadly anticipated to retain energy after the 2024 elections.
They level to a 2019 citizenship legislation that the U.N. human rights workplace referred to as “fundamentally discriminatory,” an anti-conversion laws that challenges the constitutionally protected proper to freedom of perception and the 2019 revoking of Muslim majority Kashmir’s particular standing.
There has additionally been the demolition of Muslim properties within the title of eradicating unlawful development and a ban on carrying the hijab in lecture rooms in Karnataka when the BJP was in energy in that state.
Modi’s authorities denies the presence of minority abuse and says its insurance policies intention to profit all Indians. The Indian embassy in Washington and India’s Foreign Ministry didn’t reply to a request for remark.
India Hate Lab mentioned it tracked on-line exercise of Hindu nationalist teams, verified movies of hate speech posted on social media and compiled knowledge of remoted incidents reported by Indian media.
Source: www.dailysabah.com