Condemning the Silencing of Hindutva Discourse and Defence of Academic Freedom at Concordia University
August 22nd, 2024
Justice for All Canada condemns in the strongest possible terms the egregious and undemocratic attempts to silence an educational program aimed at raising awareness about the impact of Hindutva fascism on minorities in India. The program was unjustly cancelled by Concordia University on August 15, 2024, after a coordinated smear campaign by right-wing Hindutva groups falsely claimed that the event was "Hinduphobic." We unequivocally condemn all forms of anti-Hindu bigotry. However it is crucial to understand that this event was not an attack on Hinduism, but rather a critical examination of the political ideology of Hindutva, a nationalist sentiment perpetuating violence and oppression against minorities in India. Disruptors of the program shockingly attempted to obscure the documented realities of Hindutva's atrocities, including ongoing religious and caste-based oppression and violence against India's minorities.
As an endorsing partner, we stand in solidarity with the South Asian Diaspora Action Collective (SADAC), CERAS, and all who braved intimidation to organize and attend the event despite intimidation.
Those who sought to censor this program failed to understand its purpose: to expose and challenge the entrenched racism and violence justified by the Hindutva ideology which underpins the right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ruling India today. This reality has been extensively documented by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and countless human rights organizations. Suppressing a program that was meant to engage renowned advocates, including Indian civil rights activist and journalist Teesta Setalvad, Canadian university professor Fahad Ahmad, and Indian activist Afreen Fatima, demonstrated willful ignorance of the program’s anti-racist mission, which aimed to educate and inform about the real and ongoing threats faced by India’s most vulnerable communities.
The goal was to shed light on the persistent and systemic discrimination normalized by Hindutva ideology under the BJP and its ideological parent, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), both of which have long histories rooted in exclusionary and racist principles. The violence emerging from Hindutva principles disproportionately targets Muslims, Dalits, Adivasis, Christians, Sikhs, and other marginalized communities in India, perpetuating an authoritarian agenda that extends beyond India’s borders, also affecting us here in North America.
The cancellation at Concordia University, and the subsequent violent disruption at the alternate location where the event was re-organized despite disruptor harrassment, constitutes an attack on the principles of free speech and academic freedom in Canada. “The tactics of intimidation as well as the inaccuracies and distortions propagated by disruptors cannot be allowed to stand unchallenged. We’re committed to ensuring the voices of the oppressed are amplified, not silenced,” said Taha Ghayyur, Executive Director of Justice For All Canada.
Justice For All Canada urges Concordia University to reflect on its role as an academic institution that must champion, not hinder, the free exchange of ideas, particularly those that confront deeply entrenched systems of racism. We reaffirm our commitment to challenging hate, upholding the rights of Muslims, Dalits, Adivasis, Christians, Sikhs, and all other marginalized communities in India who face systemic discrimination, violence, and silencing. We will will continue to defend their fundamental freedoms of speech and expression.
Important Resources
Justice for All Canada condemns in the strongest possible terms the egregious and undemocratic attempts to silence an educational program aimed at raising awareness about the impact of Hindutva fascism on minorities in India. The program was unjustly cancelled by Concordia University on August 15, 2024, after a coordinated smear campaign by right-wing Hindutva groups falsely claimed that the event was "Hinduphobic." We unequivocally condemn all forms of anti-Hindu bigotry. However it is crucial to understand that this event was not an attack on Hinduism, but rather a critical examination of the political ideology of Hindutva, a nationalist sentiment perpetuating violence and oppression against minorities in India. Disruptors of the program shockingly attempted to obscure the documented realities of Hindutva's atrocities, including ongoing religious and caste-based oppression and violence against India's minorities.
As an endorsing partner, we stand in solidarity with the South Asian Diaspora Action Collective (SADAC), CERAS, and all who braved intimidation to organize and attend the event despite intimidation.
Those who sought to censor this program failed to understand its purpose: to expose and challenge the entrenched racism and violence justified by the Hindutva ideology which underpins the right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ruling India today. This reality has been extensively documented by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and countless human rights organizations. Suppressing a program that was meant to engage renowned advocates, including Indian civil rights activist and journalist Teesta Setalvad, Canadian university professor Fahad Ahmad, and Indian activist Afreen Fatima, demonstrated willful ignorance of the program’s anti-racist mission, which aimed to educate and inform about the real and ongoing threats faced by India’s most vulnerable communities.
The goal was to shed light on the persistent and systemic discrimination normalized by Hindutva ideology under the BJP and its ideological parent, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), both of which have long histories rooted in exclusionary and racist principles. The violence emerging from Hindutva principles disproportionately targets Muslims, Dalits, Adivasis, Christians, Sikhs, and other marginalized communities in India, perpetuating an authoritarian agenda that extends beyond India’s borders, also affecting us here in North America.
The cancellation at Concordia University, and the subsequent violent disruption at the alternate location where the event was re-organized despite disruptor harrassment, constitutes an attack on the principles of free speech and academic freedom in Canada. “The tactics of intimidation as well as the inaccuracies and distortions propagated by disruptors cannot be allowed to stand unchallenged. We’re committed to ensuring the voices of the oppressed are amplified, not silenced,” said Taha Ghayyur, Executive Director of Justice For All Canada.
Justice For All Canada urges Concordia University to reflect on its role as an academic institution that must champion, not hinder, the free exchange of ideas, particularly those that confront deeply entrenched systems of racism. We reaffirm our commitment to challenging hate, upholding the rights of Muslims, Dalits, Adivasis, Christians, Sikhs, and all other marginalized communities in India who face systemic discrimination, violence, and silencing. We will will continue to defend their fundamental freedoms of speech and expression.
Important Resources
- Human Rights Watch (HRW) Word Report: India (2023, 2024): Religious Minorities, Dalits, and Tribal Groups
https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2024/country-chapters/india#4ebb48 - U.S. department of Justice, 2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: India https://www.state.gov/reports/2023-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/india/
- TIME: How India’s Hindu Nationalists Are Weaponizing History Against Muslims https://time.com/6320003/india-weaponizing-history-against-muslims/
- Genocide Watch: India Genocide Warning https://www.genocidewatch.com/single-post/india-genocide-emergency