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Instances of hate speech against minorities in India have soared by 74% in 2024, reaching a peak during the national elections, according to a new report. Released by the Washington-based research group India Hate Lab, the report documented 1,165 instances of hate speech last year, with politicians including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah identified as frequent offenders.
Notably, 98.5% of the hate speech incidents targeted Muslims, indicating a concerning trend against this community. The report emphasizes that the majority of these cases occurred in states governed by Modi's BJP or its larger political alliance. The BBC has reached out to multiple representatives from the BJP for comments regarding the findings of the India Hate Lab, given the party's history of being accused of anti-minority sentiments, particularly towards Muslims.
The BJP has continuously rebutted claims of Islamophobia and has defended itself against charges of promoting hate speech. On Tuesday, a national spokesperson reiterated the party's position, insisting that India has a robust legal system designed to uphold peace and order. "Today's India does not need any certification from any 'anti-India reports industry'," stated Jaiveer Shergill, a spokesperson for the BJP.
However, the party has faced criticism for engaging in hate speech during the recent election campaign. Allegations arose that Modi employed divisive rhetoric that targeted Muslims specifically. In May, India's Election Commission directed the party to remove a controversial social media post perceived to "demonise Muslims".
The India Hate Lab report indicated that the peak month for hate speech incidents was May, with 269 cases reported. While Christians have also been affected by hate speech, the scale of these incidents is significantly lower compared to those directed at Muslims. Activists argue that since Modi's administration took power in 2014, minorities, especially Muslims, have experienced heightened discrimination and violence.
The findings of the report highlight that the highest occurrences of hate speech were found at political rallies, religious processions, protest marches, and cultural events, with 79.9% of such incidents occurring in BJP-ruled or coalition-governed states. Key states like Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh were responsible for nearly half of all hate speech events catalogued in 2024. The report also detailed that the BJP organized 340 hate speech events this year - a staggering 580% increase from the previous year.
Worryingly, the report notes a significant rise in harmful and dangerous speech patterns compared to 2023, with both political leaders and religious figures inciting violence against Muslims. This dangerous rhetoric included calls for violence, economic boycotts against Muslim businesses, and threats to destroy Muslim properties and religious structures. These findings raise critical concerns regarding religious harmony and the safety of minority communities in India.
Instances of hate speech against minorities in India have soared by 74% in 2024, reaching a peak during the national elections, according to a new report. Released by the Washington-based research group India Hate Lab, the report documented 1,165 instances of hate speech last year, with politicians including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah identified as frequent offenders.
Notably, 98.5% of the hate speech incidents targeted Muslims, indicating a concerning trend against this community. The report emphasizes that the majority of these cases occurred in states governed by Modi's BJP or its larger political alliance. The BBC has reached out to multiple representatives from the BJP for comments regarding the findings of the India Hate Lab, given the party's history of being accused of anti-minority sentiments, particularly towards Muslims.
The BJP has continuously rebutted claims of Islamophobia and has defended itself against charges of promoting hate speech. On Tuesday, a national spokesperson reiterated the party's position, insisting that India has a robust legal system designed to uphold peace and order. "Today's India does not need any certification from any 'anti-India reports industry'," stated Jaiveer Shergill, a spokesperson for the BJP.
However, the party has faced criticism for engaging in hate speech during the recent election campaign. Allegations arose that Modi employed divisive rhetoric that targeted Muslims specifically. In May, India's Election Commission directed the party to remove a controversial social media post perceived to "demonise Muslims".
The India Hate Lab report indicated that the peak month for hate speech incidents was May, with 269 cases reported. While Christians have also been affected by hate speech, the scale of these incidents is significantly lower compared to those directed at Muslims. Activists argue that since Modi's administration took power in 2014, minorities, especially Muslims, have experienced heightened discrimination and violence.
The findings of the report highlight that the highest occurrences of hate speech were found at political rallies, religious processions, protest marches, and cultural events, with 79.9% of such incidents occurring in BJP-ruled or coalition-governed states. Key states like Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh were responsible for nearly half of all hate speech events catalogued in 2024. The report also detailed that the BJP organized 340 hate speech events this year - a staggering 580% increase from the previous year.
Worryingly, the report notes a significant rise in harmful and dangerous speech patterns compared to 2023, with both political leaders and religious figures inciting violence against Muslims. This dangerous rhetoric included calls for violence, economic boycotts against Muslim businesses, and threats to destroy Muslim properties and religious structures. These findings raise critical concerns regarding religious harmony and the safety of minority communities in India.
