Anti-minority hate speech increased by 74% in 2024, the report says

Cases of hate speech against ethnic minorities rose 74% in India in 2024, peaking during the national election, according to a new report.

The report, released on Monday by Washington-based research group India Hate Lab, recorded 1,165 such instances last year, with politicians like Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. He added that he is one of the most frequent providers of hate speech.

Muslims were the most targeted, with 98.5% of recorded cases of hate speech being directed towards them.

The report said most of the events in which hate speech occurred took place in states controlled by Modi’s party or grand alliance.

The BBC is seeking comments on the Indian Hate Lab report from several spokesmen of Modi Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

For many years, BJP leaders have been frequently accused of targeting minority communities in India, particularly Muslims.

The ruling party rejected allegations of Islamophobia and hate speech that were levelled by rights groups and opposition leaders.

On Tuesday, a spokesman from across the country repeated this stance, telling CNN that “there is a very strong legal system that is constructed to maintain peace, order and maintain non-violence.”

“Today India does not require certification from the “anti-Indian reporting industry” run by bias and vested interests in the Indian image. ” Jaiveer Shergill said.

However, the party was accused of using hate speech during last year’s fierce election campaign. The Prime Minister himself accused of using it Divisive rhetoric It attacked Muslims. In May, India’s election commission also urged the party to remove social media posts that opposition leaders said they “demonized Muslims.”

According to a report by India Hate Lab, 269 hate speech instances were reported in May 2024.

Christians are also targeted for hate speech, but to a lesser extent than Muslims, the report says.

Rights groups often say that after Modi’s government came to power in 2014, minorities, especially Muslims, have faced an increase in discrimination and attacks. The BJP has repeatedly denied these allegations.

The lab report said hate speech was particularly observed in political gatherings, religious processions, protest marches and cultural gatherings. Most of these events – 931 or 79.9% – took place in states where the BJP directly governed or controlled by the Union.

According to lab data, the three BJP-controlled states — Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh — account for almost half of the total hate speech events recorded in 2024.

The ruling party was also the organizer of 340 such events in 2024, an increase of 580% from the previous year.

“The 2024 hate speech pattern also revealed a serious surge in dangerous statements compared to 2023. Both political leaders and religious figures are openly incited violence against Muslims.” The report said.

“This included full violence, a call to arms, economic boycotts of Muslim businesses, the destruction of Muslim homes, and the seizure or dismantling of Muslim religious structures.”