Latest Hate Crime Against Hindus in NYC Adds to Series of Vandalisms & Attacks Targeting Hindus

Leaders of the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) and Hindu Americans from across the country condemned a possible anti-Hindu arson in the Richmond Hill neighborhood of Queens over the Thanksgiving weekend.

According to reports, a man was caught on camera setting fire to dozens of symbolic Hindu flags (also known as Jhandi flags) outside of a Hindu residence. Guyanese and Trinidadian Hindus often use jhandi flags to commemorate auspicious occasions.

“Any isolated anti-Hindu attack in the United States is an attack on us all,” said Murali Balaji, HAF Director of Education and Curriculum Reform. “The centuries-old tradition of displaying jhandi flags is one that Guyanese, Trinidadian, and Surinamese Hindus have continued proudly, despite their marginalization in the United States. Any attack on such traditions should be investigated as a hate crime.”

This is the latest attack targeting Hindus across the USA and Canada. To give a clearer picture of the number of Hinduphobic attacks taking place, here are just a few attacks according to recent news reports,

1. A spiritual Hindu temple was vandalized in Kitchener-Waterloo (Ontario, Canada) on November 15, 2015. A Hindu temple in Hamilton (Ontario, Canada) also warned the community of fear for attacks on their temple after it was burnt by hooligans in the past.
2. A Sign for the “Winston Salem Hindu Temple” in Clemmons (North Carolina, USA) was hit with over 60 shotgun blasts in July 2015
3. A Hindu temple was vandalized in Dallas (Texas, USA) in April 2015
4. Some Hindu-owned stores in Queens (NY, USA) were tagged with graffiti, even referring to the word ‘Hindu’ in March 2015
5. Two Hindu temples in Kent and Bothell (both in Seattle metropolitan area of Washington, USA) were vandalized in February 2015
6.  A Hindu grandfather was roughed-up by police in Madison (Alabama, USA) in February 2015, resulting in partial paralysis
7. Late last year, there was anti-Hindu vandalism in Loudoun County (Virginia, USA)

Another American Hindu community leader Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada today, said that it was shocking for the hard-working, harmonious and peaceful US Hindu community numbering about three million; who had made lot of contributions to the nation and society; to receive such signals of hatred and anger. Zed, also urged administration for swift action; and New York State Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio to contact the Queens area Hindu community to reassure them.

Mr.Zed suggested that basics of major world religions should be taught in high schools of the country and first responders should be imparted cultural competency training so that we understood each other better in view of increasing diversity of the country. Zed urged fellow Hindus to educate Americans about Hinduism, the oldest and third largest religion of the world with about one billion adherents, and try to remove any misconceptions about it.

While the NYPD is investigating the latest New York City incident, HAF leaders urge law enforcement to look into a possible hate crime against Hindus. Queens is home to the largest Hindu community in New York City.  NYPD officials are asking anyone with information on the crime to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS.