September 20, 2024
Modified : September 20, 2024
A survey titled “The Detrimental Effects of Hindu Nationalism on Indian American Muslims”, conducted by the Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC) and ReThink Media has revealed alarming trends regarding the rise of Hindu nationalism within the Indian diaspora in the United States and its impact on Indian American Muslims.
According to the survey, over 80% of survey respondents experienced Islamophobic harassment, discrimination, or prejudice from Hindu friends or social contacts over the past decade since Modi’s rise to power.
The survey, published on 18 September, polled 950 Indian American Muslims and offers a comprehensive look at how Hindu nationalist ideology, particularly following the rise of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is shaping social, professional, and digital interactions, leading to increased Islamophobic discrimination, exclusion, and emotional distress.
“This survey provides quantitative proof of what many Indian American Muslims have known to be true for decades: namely, that Hindu nationalism is a corrosive force in American life, just as it is in India,” said IAMC executive director Rasheed Ahmed.
Modi is scheduled to visit the US on September 21 and will hold separate meetings with U.S. President Joseph Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Australian PM Anthony Albanese.
70% of respondents experienced biased treatment from Hindu colleagues, including being passed over for promotions and anti-Muslim remarks at work. 48% of survey respondents reported facing harassment and discrimination on Facebook, WhatsApp, and LinkedIn, describing these experiences as emotionally exhausting, and contributing to feelings of isolation and hostility.
90% of survey respondents agreed (73% of them strongly) that Hindu nationalism “is a threat to Muslims in the United States,” and 86% agreed (69% strongly) that Hindu nationalism “is a threat to democracy in the United States.”
“The rise of Hindu nationalism has caused a noticeable deterioration in relationships between Indian American Muslims and Hindus in the U.S. Many respondents expressed feelings of mistrust and social isolation, noting that they no longer feel included in Indian American cultural and social events. This exclusion has worsened since the rise of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in India, with a whopping 80% of respondents stating they feel less comfortable in Indian American spaces,” the report said.
“The Modi regime’s grasp on Indian American communities undermines mutual respect, as well as bonds of friendship and solidarity. It is a threat to international democracy just as much as to the local, social fabric,” said IAMC president Mohammad Jawad.
The survey respondents are located throughout the United States but are concentrated in the larger Indian American population centres in New Jersey, New York, Illinois, Texas, and California. The report’s findings emphasize the need for enhanced community dialogue, education, and policy interventions to address the growing divide and ensure the inclusion and safety of Indian American Muslims.
Categories: America, Asia, India, United States, USA