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Urging Hindu religious leaders in India to speak out, Hindus for Human Rights (HfHR), alomg with religious leaders across the globe have the growing climate of target and hate and denounced it. As many as 17 organisations and 40 individuals have signed this public appeal that breaks the collective silence and speaks out against targeted hate.

Taking note of the growing hate, violating “the deepest teachings” of Hindu tradition, members pledged to: speak out against anti-Muslim words and actions whenever they show up in our communities, strengthen relationships with Muslim neighbours, leaders and institutions, keep temples and homes open to all, irrespective of religious background, commit to teachings of religious freedom and social justice that challenge notions of religious nationalism, casteism, and hatred for our brothers and sisters of other traditions.

“As Hindus, we are called to recognize that the Divine resides equally in all living beings. This recognition requires that we affirm the dignity of all beings and practice the virtues of non-injury and compassion. Sadly, as we write this letter, we are seeing increasing violence against our Muslim siblings in India, carried out in the name of our faith,” said the HfHR in the letter available in Hindu, Telugu, Malayalam, Tamil and Kannada.

Signatories expressed dismay to see Hindu leaders in India and abroad openly embracing Hindutva—a century-old political ideology that sees citizens of other faiths as inherently foreign. It disqualifies them from enjoying the full benefits of Indian citizenship.

As an example, the letter cited the Dharam Sansad in Haridwar, Uttarakhand wherein saffron-clad sadhus, sadhvis, and swamis called for genocidal violence against Indian Muslims in December 2021.

“The images… are a chilling sight that we cannot ignore. And since the so-called “Dharma Sansad” we have seen Muslim women put up for “auction” on an app created by college students, and hijab-wearing Muslim girls being denied their right to equal education in Karnataka,” said the letter.

Addressing such attacks and whatabouttery of attacks on Hindus, the HfHR said that the only way to break the cycles of religious violence across South Asia is to stand up for each other’s right to thrive and live with dignity.

“Violence against Hindus and other minorities in countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh does not, in any way, justify violence against Muslims and other minorities in India,” it said.

People and organisations from Delhi, Mathura, Haridwar as well as New York, Colorado, California, Florida, and even South Africa and Australia signed this letter.

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