Hate Speech Events in India 2023

FOCUS

This report was published in 2024 by India Hate Lab, a research group based in Washington D.C. It presents data from the year 2023 on in-person hate speech events targeting India’s religious minorities, particularly Muslims. The events analysed include political rallies, religious parades, marches, and demonstrations. 

The report notes that 668 hate speech events targeting Muslims were recorded in 2023. As high as 75 per cent of these – amounting to 498 events – took place in BJP-governed states, Union Territories (administered by the BJP-led central government), and Delhi (police and public order comes under the central government’s purview). While the first half of the year 2023 saw 255 events of hate speech, the second half witnessed a significant rise with 413 events, marking a 62 per cent increase. 

This 47-page document is divided into eight sections: Introduction (Section 1); Methodology (Section 2); Hate Speech Trends in India (Section 3); Israel-Gaza War and Hate Speech (Section 4); Hate Speech and Violence (Section 5); New Actors: Entrepreneurs of Hate (Section 6); Conclusion (Section 7); and End notes (Section 8).

    FACTOIDS

  1. In accordance with the United Nations framework, the report describes hate speech as “any kind of communication in speech, writing or behaviour, that attacks or uses pejorative or discriminatory language with reference to a person or a group on the basis of who they are, in other words, based on their religion, ethnicity, nationality, race, colour, descent, gender or other identity factor.” 


  2. The states registering the highest number of hate speech events are: Maharashtra (118 events), Uttar Pradesh (104 events), Madhya Pradesh (65 events). The report also notes that the hate speech events saw a huge rise in October with 91 events, prior to the Assembly elections in the states of Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, and Mizoram. 

  3. According to the report, the top 3 organizers of hate speech events were Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and its youth wing Bajrang Dal responsible for 216 events; Antarrashtriya Hindu Parishad (AHP)-Rashtriya Bajrang Dal responsible for 77 events; and Bharatiya Janta Party responsible for 50 events.

  4. Kajal Hindustani, a far-right influencer from Gujarat, topped the list of individuals responsible for most hate speeches. Pravin Togadia, the chief of Antarrashtriya Hindu Parishad (AHP) was in the second spot, as per the report.

  5. The report states that as high as 239 events, amounting to 36 per cent of the total events, included a direct call of violence against Muslims. The report adds that 77 per cent of these speeches were delivered in states and union territories governed by the BJP.

  6. The report highlights that 63 per cent of the hate speech incidents (420 events) mention "conspiracy theories, like love jihad, land jihad, halal jihad, and population jihad”.

  7. In order to effectively combat hate speech, the report suggests a holistic approach that includes counter-hate speech actors, strengthened media and civil society roles, and calls for strong and efficient judicial involvement. 


    Focus and Factoids by Pragati Singh Parihar. 

AUTHOR

India Hate Lab

COPYRIGHT

India Hate Lab

PUBLICATION DATE

28 Feb, 2024

TAGS

#hate-speech #violence-and-discrimination #muslims #minorities

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