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Anti-Hindu sentiment, sometimes[citation needed] also referred to asHinduphobia, is the fear of, hostility towards, or negative perceptions pertaining to the practitioners or religion ofHinduism. It exists in many contexts in many countries, often due to historical conflict. There is also scholarly debate on what constitutes Hinduphobia in theWestern World.
In the late 19th and early 20th century, the wordHinduphobia was used more generally to refer toprejudice against Indians, regardless of religion. This reflected an earlier usage of the wordHindu, which referred to everyone from India.[1]Sudhindra Bose, president of theHindustan Association of America, used the wordHinduphobia as the title of an 1914 essay inThe Cosmopolitan Student in this sense. The Hindustan Association of America clarified in a 1915 pamphlet that "Hindus unified peoples of India not as Hindus,Mohammadans and Christians; [...] sons and daughters of India but not asBrahman [sic],sudra, anduntouchables."[2]
Hinduphobia in the sense of prejudice against Hindus in terms of their religion was coined by activistRajiv Malhotra.[3][4] ScholarJeffery D. Long defined the term as an irrational aversion ofHindus orHinduism.[5]Vamsee Juluri, a Professor of Media Studies at theUniversity of San Francisco agrees.[6][a] Sophie-Jung H. Kim said that the definition of Hinduphobia as presented by some Hindu activist groups "evolve depending on the evidence that the members of these groups discover."[3]
According to the religious dialogue activistP. N. Benjamin, someChristian evangelists denigrateHindu gods and consider Hindu rituals barbaric, and such attitudes have caused tensions between religious communities.[9][10]
Hindus have historically been, and continue to be, consideredKafirs (infidels) by someMuslims[11] andHeathen,Satanic orDemonic by someChristians.[12]
Religious persecution, discrimination of Hindus has causedAfghanistan's Hindu population to dwindle.[13] Sikhs and Hindus are continuing to flee from Afghanistan as of July 2020.[14]
TheTaliban government inAfghanistan, which enforced strictsharia (Islamic law), announced plans to require all Hindus (andSikhs) to wear identifying badges in public in May 2001 as part of the Taliban's campaign tosegregate and repress non-Muslim parts ofAfghan society.[15][16] At the time, about 500 Hindus and 2,000 Sikhs remained in Afghanistan.[17] The anti-Hindu decree was seen by many as being reminiscent of theNazi law which required allJews to wear identifyingyellow badges.[16][18][19] The order prompted international outrage, and it was denounced by theIndian andU.S. governments,[17] as well as byAbraham Foxman of theADL.[18] Following international pressure, theTaliban regime dropped the badge plans in June 2001.[20]
InBangladesh political leaders frequently face controversy for spreading anti-Hindu sentiment in an attempt to appeal to religious extremists and incite community outrage.[21][failed verification] One of the most well known instances of this occurred in 1996 whenKhaleda Zia a previousPrime Minister, and then leader of the opposition, declared that the country was at risk of hearing "uludhhwani" (aBengali Hindu custom involving women'sululation) frommosques, replacing theazaan (Muslim call to prayer).[22][full citation needed][23]
The fundamentalists and right-wing parties such as theBangladesh Nationalist Party andJatiya Party often portray Hindus as being sympathetic to India, making accusations ofdual loyalty and allegations of transferring economic resources to India, contributing to a widespread perception that Bangladeshi Hindus are disloyal to the state. Also, the right wing parties claim the Hindus to be backing the Awami League.[24]
On 28 February 2013, theInternational Crimes Tribunal sentencedDelwar Hossain Sayeedi, the Vice President of theJamaat-e-Islami to death for the war crimes committed during the1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. Following the sentence, Jamaat-e-Islami activists attacked Hindu communities across the country. Hindu properties were looted and burned down, and temples were desecrated and set on fire.[25][26] While the government has held the Jamaat-e-Islami responsible for the attacks on the minorities, the Jamaat-e-Islami leadership has denied any involvement. The minority leaders have protested the attacks and appealed for justice. TheSupreme Court of Bangladesh has directed the law enforcement to startsuo motu investigation into the attacks.US Ambassador to Bangladesh express concern about attack of Jamaat on Bengali Hindu community.[27][28] The violence included the looting of Hindu properties and businesses, the burning of Hindu homes, anddesecration and destruction ofHindu temples.[29] According to community leaders, more than 50Hindu temples and 1,500 Hindu homes were destroyed in 20 districts.[30] On 5 May 2014, A mob of almost 3,000 attacked Hindu households and a temple in eastern Bangladesh after two youths from the community allegedly insulted the Islamic prophet,Muhammad onFacebook.[31][32]
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In March–April 2024, aChristian church inAndhra Pradesh came to attention when a video showing that the church's footwalk tiles consisted of sacred Hindu symbols ofOm andSwastika went viral on social media and sparked outrage. Following the backlash, the tiles containing those symbols were removed by the church.[33][34][35]
Between 11:30 pm and midnight on 26 August 2024, the idol of the goddess in Bhoolaxmi temple was destroyed by vandals. The temple is located in the Rakshapuram area of Hyderabad, and is 50 yards (46 m) from the police station. Local politician,Samreddy Surender Reddy said that the temple had been attacked by vandals five times during the past five years. The police used CCTV to identify two suspects, who they arrested. A crowd gathered outside the temple toprotest against the vandalism. The police said that there was no evidence that the vandalism was politically motivated.[36]
In September 2024, stones were pelted at Ganesha idol processions in many parts of India.[37][38][39][40][41] The police were also attacked in many places but managed to seize the swords used to attack the devotees; petrol bombs were also used to set shops on fire.[42] In another incident, the Ganesh idol was taken from the demonstrators by the police, who then secured it in an unoccupied police van, the snaps of which went viral online, as well as in newspapers; some claimed it was, "belittling" to do so.[43][44][45] In September 2025, there were more incidents of stone-pelting of Ganesha idols during immersion and Chappanbhog ceremonies in different parts of India;[46][47][48][49] in an incident in late August 2025, eggs were thrown instead of stones.[49]
In April 2006, local authorities demolished severalHindu temples to make way for developmental projects. Their reason was that these temples were unlicensed and squatting on government land. In April and May 2006, several Hindu temples were demolished by city hall authorities in the country, accompanied by violence against Hindus.[50][unreliable source?] On 21 April 2006, the Malaimel Sri Selva Kaliamman Temple inKuala Lumpur was reduced to rubble after the city hall sent in bulldozers.[51]
The president of the Consumers Association ofSubang andShah Alam inSelangor had been helping to organise efforts to stop the local authorities in theMuslim dominated city of Shah Alam from demolishing a 107-year-old Hindu temple. The growingIslamization in Malaysia is a cause for concern to manyMalaysians who follow minority religions such as Hinduism.[52]
On 11 May 2006, armed city hall officers fromKuala Lumpur forcefully demolished part of a 60-year-old suburban temple that serves more than 1,000 Hindus. The "Hindu Rights Action Force", a coalition of several NGO's, have protested these demolitions by lodging complaints with theMalaysian Prime Minister.[53] Many Hindu advocacy groups have protested what they allege is a systematic plan of temple cleansing inMalaysia. The official reason given by theMalaysian government has been that the temples were built "illegally". However, several of the temples are centuries old.[53]According to a lawyer for the Hindu Rights Action Task Force, a Hindu temple is demolished in Malaysia once every three weeks.[54]
A group of Malaysian Muslims protested against the construction of a Hindu temple in a Muslim-majority neighborhood, using a cow's head in the demonstration, sparking concerns about racial and religious tensions in the country.[55]
InPakistan, Hindus are often regarded askafirs (unbelievers) and blamed for "causing all the problems in Pakistan".[56] On Pakistan Day, the Pakistan Army dropped leaflets in South and North Waziristan warning tribesmen about foreigners and their local supporters, using the term "Yahood Aur Hanood" (Jews and Hindus) to describe the perceived enemies. The leaflets aimed to differentiate between the war on terror and local tribes, urging vigilance against intruders.[57] At the time ofPakistan's creation the 'hostage theory' had been espoused. According to this theory theHindu minority in Pakistan was to be given a fair deal in Pakistan in order to ensure the protection of theMuslim minority in India.[58][59]
Separate electorates for Hindus andChristians were established in 1985—a policy which was originally proposed by Islamist leaderAbul A'la Maududi. Christian and Hindu leaders complained that they felt excluded from the county's political process, but the policy had strong support fromIslamists.[60]
TheMuttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA), a coalition of Islamist political parties in Pakistan, calls for the increasedIslamization of the government and society, specifically taking an anti-Hindu stance. The MMA leads the opposition in thenational assembly, held a majority in theNWFP Provincial Assembly, and was part of the ruling coalition inBalochistan. However, some members of the MMA made efforts to eliminate their rhetoric against Hindus.[61]
The public school curriculum in Pakistan was Islamized during the 1980s.[62] Thegovernment of Pakistan claims to undertake a major revision to eliminate such teachings and to remove Islamic teaching from secular subjects.[61] The bias in Pakistani textbooks was also documented by Y. Rosser (2003). She wrote that
"in the past few decades, social studies textbooks in Pakistan have been used as locations to articulate the hatred that Pakistani policy makers have attempted to inculcate towards theirHindu neighbours", and that as a result "in the minds of generations of Pakistanis, indoctrinated by the 'Ideology of Pakistan' are lodged fragments of hatred and suspicion."[63]
The bias in Pakistani textbooks was studied byRubina Saigol,K. K. Aziz,I. A. Rahman,Mubarak Ali,A. H. Nayyar,Ahmed Saleem, Y. Rosser and others.
A study by Nayyar & Salim (2003) that was conducted with 30 experts of Pakistan's education system, found that the textbooks contain statements that seek to create hate against Hindus. There was also an emphasis onJihad, Shahadat, wars and military heroes. The study reported that the textbooks also had a lot of gender-biased stereotypes. Some of theproblems in Pakistani textbooks cited in the report were:
"Insensitivity to the existing religious diversity of the nation"; "Incitement to militancy and violence, including encouragement of Jihad and Shahadat"; a "glorification of war and the use of force"; "Inaccuracies of fact and omissions that serve to substantially distort the nature and significance of actual events in our history"; "Perspectives that encourageprejudice,bigotry anddiscrimination towards fellow citizens, especially women and religious minorities, and other towards nations" and "Omission of concepts ... that could encourage critical self awareness among students". (Nayyar & Salim 2003). The Pakistani Curriculum document for classes K-V stated in 1995 that "at the completion of Class-V, the child should be able to "Understand Hindu-Muslim differences and the resultant need for Pakistan. [p. 154]
A more recent textbook which was published in Pakistan and titledA Short History of Pakistan, edited byIshtiaq Hussain Qureshi, has been heavily criticized by academic peer-reviewers for anti-Hindu biases and prejudices that are consistent withPakistani nationalism, where Hindus are portrayed as "villains" and Muslims as "victims" living under the "disastrous Hindu rule" and "betraying the Muslims to the British", characterizations that academic reviewers found "disquieting" and having a "warped subjectivity".[64][65][66]
Ameer Hamza, a leader of the terrorist groupLashkar-e-Taiba, wrote a highly derogatory book about Hinduism in 1999 called "Hindu Ki Haqeeqat" ("Reality of (a) Hindu"); he was not prosecuted by the Government.[67]
According to the Sustainable Development Policy Institute report 'Associated with the insistence on theIdeology of Pakistan has been an essential component of hate againstIndia and the Hindus. For the upholders of the Ideology of Pakistan, the existence of Pakistan is defined only in relation to Hindus, and hence the Hindus have to be painted as negatively as possible'[68] A 2005 report by theNational Commission for Justice and Peace a non profit organization in Pakistan, found that Pakistan Studies textbooks in Pakistan have been used to articulate the hatred that Pakistani policy-makers have attempted to inculcate towards the Hindus. "Vituperative animosities legitimise military and autocratic rule, nurturing a siege mentality. Pakistan Studies textbooks are an active site to represent India as a hostile neighbour", the report stated. "The story of Pakistan's past is intentionally written to be distinct from, and often in direct contrast with, interpretations of history found in India. From the government-issued textbooks, students are taught that Hindus are backward and superstitious." Further the report stated "Textbooks reflect intentional obfuscation. Today's students, citizens of Pakistan and its future leaders are the victims of these partial truths".[69][70][71][72]
An editorial inDawn discussed a report byThe Guardian noted that state-run schools, promoted extremism and bigotry. It highlighted that textbooks in Pakistani state schools propagate concepts like jihad, the inferiority of non-Muslims, and hostility towards India, which foster a bigoted and obscurantist mindset.[73][74] According to a study by a US government commission, textbooks in Pakistani schools foster prejudice and intolerance of Hindus and other religious minorities, and most teachers view non-Muslims as enemies of Islam.[75] According to historian ProfessorMubarak Ali, textbook reform in Pakistan began withZulfiqar Ali Bhutto's introduction of Pakistan Studies and Islamic Studies in 1971. GeneralZia-ul-Haq later intensifiedhistorical revisionism, exploiting these reforms to promote a religiously exclusive narrative, which has contributed to intolerance and extremism. The broader context includes issues with outdated and biased textbook content, with reform efforts struggling to address these problems comprehensively.[76]
In April 2024, a Hindu woman namedSwastika Chandra fromSydney was banned from using theUber app because it considered her first name (Swastika) to be offensive and related toNazism.Swastika is a Hindu symbol of divinity and spirituality, however it's perception in other parts of the world is different due to the adoption of the symbol by theNazi Party in the early 20th century. After a period of six months, Uber exempted the ban and apologized for the misunderstanding.[77]
After theLeicester riots in October 2022, Hindu groups were set to boycott a review by Dr. Chris Allen, the review's head, because of perceived lack of impartiality.[78]
A national report in the UK found that 51% of Hindu parents reported their children facing Anti-Hindu hate in schools, and found that schools had failed to monitor and address the issues. It also reported several cases of physical assault as well as beef being thrown at a student.[79]
In October 2018, it was reported thatConservative Party candidate for theMayor of LondonShaun Bailey had written a pamphlet, entitledNo Man's Land, for theCentre for Policy Studies. In it, Bailey argued that accommodating Hindus "[robs]Britain of its community" and it is also turning the country into a "crime riddled cess pool". He also claimed thatSouth Asians "bring their culture, their country and any problems they might have, with them" and that this was not a problem within theblack community "because we've shared a religion and in many cases a language".[80] In the pamphlet, Bailey confused the Hindu religion with theHindi language: "You don't know what to do. You bring your children to school and they learn far more aboutDiwali thanChristmas. I speak to the people who are fromBrent and they've been having Hindi(sic) days off."[81]
James Cleverly, the Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party, defended Bailey and suggested that Bailey's remarks were being misconstrued. He implied that black boys were turning to crime due to exposure to other religions rather than focusing on "their ownChristian culture." However, the anti-racism organizationHope Not Hate condemned Bailey's comments as "grotesque."[82]
The rise of theIndian American community in theUnited States has triggered some isolated attacks on them, as has been the case with many minority groups in the United States. Attacks which specifically targetHindus in the United States stem from what is often referred to as the "racialization of religion" among Americans, a process that begins when certain phenotypical features which are associated with a group and attached to race in popular discourse become associated with a particular religion or religions. The racialization of Hinduism in American perception has led Americans to perceive Hindus as belonging to a separate group and this contributes to prejudices against them.[83]
In 2019, Swaminarayan Temple inKentucky was vandalised. They sprayed black paint on the deity and sprayed "Jesus is the only God" on the walls. TheChristian cross was also spray painted on various walls.[84] In April 2015, aHindu temple in northTexas was vandalised when nasty images were spray-painted on its walls. In February 2015, Hindu temples inKent and theSeattle Metropolitan area were also vandalised.[84][85]
In July 2019, a Hindu priest wearing his religious attire was physically assaulted by Sergio Gouveia inQueens, New York, just two blocks from Shiv Shakti Peeth Temple inGlen Oaks. A Senator and theNew York State Attorney General have labeled it ahate crime, stating, "If someone is targeted because of religious robe and a couple of blocks from the temple where he resides, it is difficult to believe this was random." However, theNew York police have not classified it as a hate crime.[86][87]
In addition, anti-Hindu views have been expressed which are specifically based on misperceptions of the religion of Hinduism as well as mistaken racial perceptions. In the United StatesPat Robertson has denounced Hinduism as "demonic", believing that when Hindus "feel any sort of inspiration, whether it's by a river or under a tree, on top of a hill, they figure that some God or spirit is responsible for that. And so they'll worship that tree, they'll worship that hill or they'll worship anything."[88] His remarks were widely condemned and disputed byIndian Americans and members of many non-partisan advocacy groups.[89][better source needed]Evangelical leaderAlbert Mohler defended Robertson's remarks, saying "any belief system, anyworld view, whether it'sZenBuddhism or Hinduism ordialectical materialism for that matter,Marxism, that keeps persons captive and keeps them from coming to faith in theLord Jesus Christ, yes, is a demonstration of satanic power."[90]
In July, 2007, TheUnited States Senate conducted its morning prayer services with a Hindu prayer,[91] a historical first. During the service, three disruptors, named Ante Nedlko Pavkovic, Katherine Lynn Pavkovic and Christen Renee Sugar, from the Fundamentalist Christian activist groupOperation Save America[92] protested by arguing that the Hindu prayer was "anabomination", and they also claimed that they were "Christians and Patriots". They were swiftly arrested and charged with disrupting Congress.[93][94]
The event generated a storm of protest byChristian right groups in the country, with theAmerican Family Association (AFA) opposing the prayer and carrying out a campaign to lobby senators to protest against it.[95][96] Their representative attacked the proceedings as "gross idolatry".[92] The AFA sent an "Action Alert" to its members in which it asked them to e-mail, write letters, or call their Senators and ask them to oppose the Hindu prayer, stating that it is "seeking the invocation of a non-monotheistic god."[97][98][99] The "alert" stated that "since Hindus worship multiple gods, the prayer will be completely outside the American paradigm, flying in the face of the American mottoOne Nation Under God."[100] The convocation by Zed was in fact disrupted by three protesters in the gallery reportedly shouting "this is an abomination" and other complaints.[97]
Barry W. Lynn, executive director ofAmericans United for Separation of Church and State, said the protest "shows the intolerance of manyreligious right activists. They say they want more religion in the public square, but it's clear they mean only their religion."[92]
TheDotbusters was ahate group inJersey City, New Jersey, that attacked and threatenedIndian-Americans in the fall of 1987.[101] The name originates from thebindi traditionally worn by Hindu women and girls on their forehead. In July 1987, they had a letter published in theJersey Journal[102] stating that they would take any means necessary to drive the Indians out of Jersey City:[103]
I'm writing about your article during July about the abuse ofIndian People. Well I'm here to state the other side. I hate them, if you had to live near them you would also. We are an organization called dot busters. We have been around for 2 years. We will go to any extreme to get Indians to move out of Jersey City. If I'm walking down the street and I see a Hindu and the setting is right, I will hit him or her. We plan some of our most extreme attacks such as breaking windows, breaking car windows, and crashing family parties. We use the phone books and look up the name Patel. Have you seen how many of them there are? Do you even live in Jersey City? Do you walk down Central avenue and experience what its [sic] like to be near them: we have and we just don't want it anymore. You said that they will have to start protecting themselves because the police cannot always be there. They will never do anything. They are a week [sic] race Physically [sic] and mentally. We are going to continue our way. We will never be stopped.
In April 2023,Georgia became the first state in the United States to pass a resolution condemning Hinduphobia.[104][105][106] That same month, the city of Fremont, California issued a proclamation acknowledging that "Hindu Americans have been the targets of bullying, discrimination, hate speech, harassment, and bias-motivated crimes."[107]
Some academics question the usage of the term "Hinduphobia".[4] Brian Collins[b] found the tropes of Hinduphobia to be a popular weapon employed by the affluent Hindu diaspora in stifling critical academic discourses on Hinduism—parallels withKansas creationists were drawn.[108] Scholars affiliated to South Asia Scholar Activist Collective (SASAC)[109][110] reject "Hinduphobia" as an ahistorical and inappropriateneologism employed by the Hindu Right in order to suppress academic inquiry into topics concerned with Hinduism, Hindutva, caste, and Indian State.[111][112] While racist and anti-Hindu prejudices have been indeed observed, in their view, Hindus have not faced any entrenched systematic oppression in India or the United States;[111][112] the claimants of Hinduphobia were also accused of engaging in discrimination against Muslims, lower-castes, Dalits, Christians, and progressive Hindus.[112]Jeffery D. Long concluded that "[i]t seems that Hinduphobia can sometimes be in theeye of the beholder and can sometimes be a genuine phenomenon."[4]
The logic of thehostage theory tied the treatment of Muslim minorities in India to the treatment meted out to Hindus in Pakistan.
Within the subcontinent, ML propaganda claimed that besides liberating the 'majority provinces' Muslims it would guarantee protection for Muslims who would be left behind in Hindu India. In this regard, it repeatedly stressed the hostage population theory that held that 'hostage' Hindu and Sikh minorities inside Pakistan would guarantee Hindu India's good behaviour towards its own Muslim minority.
separate electorates for minorities in pakistan.
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