Hindutva-inspired violence in UK

[Muhammad]

Sunday September 18 2022

Following last night’s intimidating and provocative march by balaclava-wearing, hindutva-inspired, youth on the streets of Leicester, that has tarnished a diverse & cohesive community, MEND urges the police to initiate action with a consultative and community focused approach aimed at putting an end to these tensions.

Last night’s hindutva-inspired march is the latest in a list of provocation and harassment which the Muslim community has endured. The Muslim community has been meeting regularly with police and Leicester’s Civic Leadership to deal with the issues. The tensions have been simmering since an alleged hindutva-inspired mob attacked a young muslim 3 months ago, but dramatically erupted over 2 weeks ago, after Indian cricket “fans” celebrated a win with anti-Pakistan chanting and violence. This violence included an attack on a member of the Sikh community, who had to take refuge in a Muslim owned takeaway. These incidents were subsequently followed by another attack on a young man by 30 plus suspected hinduvata-inspired youth and this resulted in reciprocal violence. MEND calls on the police to use all necessary powers to find those responsible for both organising and carrying out this disorder...

MEND Statement: Hindutva-inspired provocation in Leicester - Muslim Engagement and Development


Leicester community activist Majid Freeman outlines the timeline of the anti-Muslim violence in the city and asks how far the poisonous Hindutva ideology has spread amongst British Hindus?

May 22, 2022 – A Muslim teen was beaten up by 30+ Hindus with bats and poles late at night in an unprovoked attack and hospitalised. He ran to his friend’s house nearby where his friend’s parents were also beaten, their house smashed, alcohol bottles were thrown in the house and much more. The friend’s father was beaten up with weapons too.

The victim’s family decided to deal with it via the authorities so went to the police. After a week they were still chasing the police up to come and take a statement. The victim’s family went door to door and collected CCTV footage of the attackers themselves and handed it to the police who they felt weren’t taking it seriously.

The initial attack by the mob took place near a temple which has CCTV outside. When the temple was asked for the CCTV footage, they said the cameras weren’t working.

August 2022 – Hindus chanting “Death to Pakistan” on Melton Road after the Pakistan vs India cricket match. The mob then attacked a Sikh man and a police officer. This was all caught on camera and the police are aware of it.

There has been a rise in groups of Hindus celebrating Indian Independence Day by going outside Masajid and horning loudly etc. Hindus have been celebrating their independence day in Leicester for years, however these provocations and taunts are a recent development. The Muslim community has been extremely patient and tolerant throughout this whole ordeal.

September 2022 – Another 20-year-old Muslim youngster was attacked late at night with poles and bats after the Pakistan vs India cricket match. He was attacked just minute’s walk away from the initial attack on the other Muslim teenager in May. Both of the attacks were at a similar time and in an identical cowardly manner. Both boys were asked if they were Muslim before getting attacked by the mob with poles and bats. That same night a car went outside a nearby masjid where two men got out and urinated on the masjid walls. This has also been reported to the police.

Police inaction

You’d be forgiven for assuming that after three months and with CCTV footage of the attackers at their disposal, Leicestershire police might have made some arrests. But as of this date there have been none and the culprits are still walking the streets freely.

It’s important to mention that after the 19-year-old Muslim man was beaten with poles leaving him covered in blood and fearing he was going to die, his first request to the police was that they take him to the hospital before giving them his detailed statement. He felt his arm and hands were broken and in the state he was in he couldn’t think clearly. He was extremely shaken by the attack.
As a result the police released the following statement the next morning, casting aspersions on the victim’s account: “I can confirm that the victim was identified, but at the initial stage of our attendance last night the victim did not want to help us secure evidence from them, a police officer provided initial first aid and they declined further medical attention at the time, but they are now receiving this.”

This line was subsequently repeated by police officers during their street interactions with the local Muslim community. This was an act of extreme irresponsibility on the part of Leicestershire Police and has compounded the existing trust deficit the Muslim community has in the police.

As a result, Leicester’s Muslim community – young and old alike – took to the streets in their hundreds in a display of frustration at the police’s inaction and to show their defiance of the Islamophobic thugs who were targeting them. Due to the understandable anger of the demonstrators matters escalated leading to small outbreaks of civil disturbance.

The media then picked up on the story painting it as a conflict between rival cricket fans. It was a narrative given credence by the police who repeatedly emphasised that this all started over a cricket match making no mention of the alleged religiously aggravated attack from May 2022. In all of the police statements there’s no mention of the initial attack whatsoever.

They’ve consistently promoted this false narrative of a cricketing dispute which has led to the Muslim community being painted as the aggressors. Naturally this has led to a total breakdown of trust between the Muslim community and the police.

...And there have also been numerous confirmed reports of other Muslims who have also been attacked by Hindus in Leicester in the past week. This has not helped to de-escalate the tensions in the community...

On Thursday September 8, a 17 year old Muslim teen was on his way to work at approximately 11:30am when he was stopped by two Hindus who asked him if he was Hindu or Muslim. They then grabbed him by his neck but he managed to beat them both up and escape. This incident took place at 11:30am in broad daylight.

The RSS, or Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (National Volunteers Association), is a core organisation in the Hindutva (Hindu fascist) movement and network. It is widely known to be the parent organisation of India’s current ruling party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP, or Indian People’s Party). It is, without a doubt, a fascist organisation that uses violence to eliminate India’s religious minorities and caste oppressed people. It is Islamophobic, anti-Sikh, anti-Christian, anti-woman, and anti-Dalit.

Where is this sudden motivation to antagonise and attack Muslims in Leicester coming from? Are some of the Hindus in Leicester trying to imitate the rising violence against Muslims in India under Modi and BJP rule? In India they carry out attacks in a similar manner on Muslims and minorities by lynching them and attacking mosques etc. We’re seeing these attacks start in recent years in the UK. How far has this poisonous Hindutva ideology spread amongst Hindus in the UK?

What caused the recent community tension in Leicester? – 5Pillars (5pillarsuk.com)

[Muhammad]

Aina J. Khan (@ainajkhan) / Twitter

It was a tense day of reporting from Leicester for me today. I interviewed a Hindu man wearing a motorbike helmet, holding an Indian flag on Belgrave road, the site of some of the unrest yesterday between a group of Muslim and Hindu men. Here’s what happened.

12:06 AM · Sep 19, 2022·Twitter Web App

This man said he supported Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) - a group whose founders took inspiration from Mussolini’s fascists. (See this @guardian long read below for more about RSS and its influence in India today.)

He said India’s independence did not truly begin until Narendra Modi took office as PM, eight years ago, and that Modi’s leadership was the panacea for “jihadist Muslims” in India. Muslims were a problem in the U.K., helmet man said, pointing to grooming gangs in Rotherham.

This man exuberantly professed how great and altruistic RSS was, a stone’s throw away from a statue of Gandhi that stands adjacent to a Hindu temple. The irony here being that Gandhi was assassinated by an RSS member (who the RSS claim had left by then).

The interview got heated when another man, an RSS member, accused me of bias when I shared concerns about yesterday’s impromptu marchers chanting “Jai Shri Ram,” a Hindu chant appropriated by extremists in India, that has now become synonymous with anti-Muslim hatred...

...Another man joined the discussion, and very quickly, all three began shouting at me. It was an extremely uncomfortable position to be in. In short, I was accused of being a member of the Taliban, an extremist, playing the victim card. I was accused of not scrutinising Pakistan’s treatment of its minorities and fixating on India’s treatment of its minorities, of ignoring how Muslims are raping everyone.

If I were a white journalist, and not visibly Muslim, suffice to say I would not have faced this level of scrutiny. But it is what it is. It’s hard not to let your emotions get the better of you, when you’re attacked in this way, fortunately only verbally.

I was also filmed, and I was refuted, very emphatically by one young British Hindu man in particular who also joined the discussion, and said that the fascist inspiration that underpinned the inception of RSS? It was not true.

We eventually all went our separate ways. I tried to listen. To question. But the accusations of bias, and the constant shutting down, it was hard to get a word in edge ways. I heard one of the men was later detained by the police.

There is no doubt these men were not representative of the Hindu community.“We condemn the insensitive and utterly disgraceful acts on the streets of Belgrave and North Evington,” said a collective statement by leaders of Hindu and Jain temples, and community organisations.

There were some lovely things I observed. I accompanied local activist from the Muslim community, @Majstar7, who escorted a woman with a sindooram on her forehead, to her home near Belgrave road.

A group of Muslim men had gathered in protest a stone’s throw away, there was around 50 police officers with high-vis jackets, helmets and batons, tensions were still running high. Her son gratefully shook Freeman’s hands with both of his own when Freeman left her at her doorstep

Nearby, I watched an English woman hold back tears, as she scrubbed blood from her window sill with some anti-bacterial wipes. Remnants of yesterday’s violence when there was a stand off between a group of Muslim and Hindu men. Close by, a red car had had its rear window smashed.

There was a peaceful gathering of mostly young Muslims in Belgrave road today, but the anger was palpable, and anxiety hung on the mouths of local residents, who looked out their front doors with concern after a night of chaos they hope will not return.

[Eric H]

Peace be with you Muhammad;

I have found that when faith groups come together, they can achieve amazing results together. Maybe it would be worth trying to organise some kind of interfaith version of Street Pastors. I have been a Street Pastor for over fourteen years, we wonder the streets of our town every Friday until around 4 am the following morning. We go because we care for our community, we listen and help when we can.

Last Friday, there was a man reported carrying a knife. We were also able to stand in the middle of a group of lads fighting. I have lost count of the number of times we have been in the middle of fights. We have been in fights with forty plus people when broken bottles have been used as weapons, there were no police most of the times. Mostly there are just three or four of us, including elderly women in their 60s and 70s. I am 73, we don't do self defence, we don't carry any protective equipment other than waterproof coats. I am amazed that with the power of prayer we are able to bring about peace so often. Many times conflicts end when people shake our hands and thank us for caring. I am also amazed that none of us have been hurt.

If Hindu's, Muslims, Sikhs came together and showed solidarity for peace and a kinder community, I am sure a difference would be seen over time. It takes one person with a vision to start up such an initiative, there are kind people in every community that want peace.

May Allah bless you in your search for peace,
Eric

[Muhammad]

Hello Eric,

Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

Muslims and Hindus have lived peacefully with each other for decades. This kind of clash is unheard of in such communities as the above. There are deeper issues here involving the emergence of Hindutva extremist ideology as well as a lack of response to this from the authorities. Anti-Muslim prejudice must be regarded just as socially unacceptable as anti-Semitism and other forms of racism and xenophobia. This is the very thing that has lead to Muslims and even some Sikhs coming together to end violence and disruption to a peaceful community.

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[Karl]

The British killed millions of Hindu and Muslims in the past and now they are fighting each other in Britain. Crazy place.

[Karl]

Hello Eric,

Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

Muslims and Hindus have lived peacefully with each other for decades. This kind of clash is unheard of in such communities as the above. There are deeper issues here involving the emergence of Hindutva extremist ideology as well as a lack of response to this from the authorities. Anti-Muslim prejudice must be regarded just as socially unacceptable as anti-Semitism and other forms of racism and xenophobia. This is the very thing that has lead to Muslims and even some Sikhs coming together to end violence and disruption to a peaceful community.

The trouble here is that you are preaching oppression and a liberal tyranny mindset does not suit everybody. Allah has given us free will, so we can hate or be racist or sexist, xenophobic if we want to. That is REAL diversity.
The Hindutvas do have a nerve to attack Muslims on British soil as Hindutvas themselves could at any time be attacked by mobs of patriotic skinheads, neo Nazis and other British nationalists.

[Eric H]

Peace be with you Karl,

Allah has given us free will, so we can hate or be racist or sexist, xenophobic if we want to.

And we also have the freedom to be kind, caring and forgiving. When you are faced with the conflict Muhammad faces, then the kinder solutions will win in the end. Kindness and mercy are more in line with the will of Allah.

May Allah bless you on your journey through life.
Eric

[Muhammad]

Allah has given us free will, so we can hate or be racist or sexist, xenophobic if we want to. That is REAL diversity.

Racism is not diversity, it is arrogance. To believe one is better than another simply based on skin colour or nationality is against the teachings of Islam. Yes, Allah سبحانه وتعالى has given us free will whether to do right or wrong and it is our responsibility to make the right choices.

[Eric H]

Peace be with you Muhammad;

I have just seen Leicester on the news tonight. Thankfully, the leaders from all sides are denouncing violence. I guess there is an opportunity for the peace makers from all sides to walk together and show solidarity through the day, and possibly through the night too.

I think we live in fearful times, poverty is setting in, the winter is about to start. There are going to be a lot of angry people who will struggle to feed their families.

May Allah bless your community in the search for peace.
Eric

[Karl]

Racism is not diversity, it is arrogance. To believe one is better than another simply based on skin colour or nationality is against the teachings of Islam. Yes, Allah سبحانه وتعالى has given us free will whether to do right or wrong and it is our responsibility to make the right choices.

To refer to racism as "arrogance" is a rather odd descriptor. I am prepared to quite openly admit that I am a proud nationalist, and yes a "xenophobe". I won't beat about the bush with this. And if it is "racist" for me to want to protect and preserve my nation and my race from hordes of foreign races "immigrating" here and therefore undermining my nation and my people, then yes, I will wear the word "racist" as a badge of pride. Racial pride and defense of tribal territory is a perfectly natural survivalist instinct, and anyone is a fool to turn against this instinct. You assert that these things "conflict with Islam". Well, be that as it may, I guess I still don't need to renounce these values that I have always passionately held, given that I am ex-Muslim anyway.

And just because I am nationalistic, xenophobic and racist DOESN'T necessarily mean to say that I believe my race to be "better" than yours. We are simply just different. I believe every species has a right to live on this God's Earth, but every species nonetheless has it's proper and indigenous territory to live in too.

"Skin colour"? Yes well idiotic liberals like to go on about how race is just about "skin colour", lol. But in reality, race goes MUCH deeper than "skin colour". It comes right down to genetics itself. This is what gives races their vastly different phenotypes, sizes, etc. Skin colour itself is more a superficial detail in the overall scheme of things.

[Eric H]

Peace be with you Karl,

I guess I still don't need to renounce these values that I have always passionately held, given that I am ex-Muslim anyway.

I wonder if you can clarify please. Your profile says you are a Muslim, yet you describe yourself as ex Muslim?

I am prepared to quite openly admit that I am a proud nationalist,

But how many generations can you trace your nationality back to? Donald Trump might describe himself as a nationalist, building walls to keep the Mexicans out. But we know both his parents and grandparents were not American. This makes him a huge hypocrite.

We are all created by the same God, the same God hears all our prayers despite our differences, we should care about each other despite our differences. All the land belongs to God, we are all temporary custodians on God's creation. Allah cares for all his creation, meaning we should also do likewise.

May Allah bless us with the peace and understanding to do his will.
Eric

[Karl]

Peace be with you Karl,



I wonder if you can clarify please. Your profile says you are a Muslim, yet you describe yourself as ex Muslim?



But how many generations can you trace your nationality back to? Donald Trump might describe himself as a nationalist, building walls to keep the Mexicans out. But we know both his parents and grandparents were not American. This makes him a huge hypocrite.

We are all created by the same God, the same God hears all our prayers despite our differences, we should care about each other despite our differences. All the land belongs to God, we are all temporary custodians on God's creation. Allah cares for all his creation, meaning we should also do likewise.

May Allah bless us with the peace and understanding to do his will.
Eric

Hello Eric, well the reason I have Muslim on my profile is simply because it is the rules here that one is not allowed to alter his religion (or non religion). Btw, I find it interesting that as a Christian (rather than a Muslim) you continually refer to God as Allah.

I'll admit that I only care about the interests of my own race. While I don't have any actual animosity as such towards other races, I nonetheless just don't care about them either. I agree that not only this planet, but also the universe belongs to God, This for me doesn't however change the fact that as an animal it is in my INSTINCT to be territorial.

[Muhammad]

Karl,

Hello Eric, well the reason I have Muslim on my profile is simply because it is the rules here that one is not allowed to alter his religion (or non religion). Btw, I find it interesting that as a Christian (rather than a Muslim) you continually refer to God as Allah.

I regret to hear you are no longer a Muslim. This doesn’t change the fact, though, as per your own admission, that you are living on God’s earth. Your race and genetics are not ‘yours’; they were created by God. You may say that you don’t necessarily believe one race is better than the other, but what we are talking about here is the common racism where a person believes they are better, not because they feel undermined, but simply because of their race. How sad it is that you have lowered yourself to acting on animal instincts, when Allah سبحانه وتعالى has elevated mankind with guidance to know right from wrong.

By the way, we don’t have a rule stating you cannot change the religion option on your profile, but you do need to ask a moderator to change it for you.

[Karl]

How sad it is that you have lowered yourself to acting on animal instincts, when Allah سبحانه وتعالى has elevated mankind with guidance to know right from wrong.

It's your religion that insists that hominins aren't animals, but hey I'm no longer a Muslim anyway so I am therefore under no obligation to believe this dogma. There is only animal, vegetable and mineral. I am not a mineral, nor am I a vegetable, therefore I am an ANIMAL, and I feel quite comfortable with that! "Mankind"? I don't identify as being part of this description known as "mankind" anyway, I only identify as being part of my RACE. If anyone would insult me by saying I am part of "mankind" that will be FIGHTIN' WORDS.

Unlike most other self-important humans I do not have narcissistic delusions of grandeur. I feel much more humble than that and enjoy to live in harmony with all of God's other creatures. You say you hate "racism" but I also regard people who belittle and mistreat non hominin animals and consider their lives as "lesser" to be nothing but hypocrite racists anyway, no better and rightful that the "racists" you despise. I have never regarded myself as "better" than a non hominin animal. As far as I'm concerned they have just as much right to live on this planet as me. Non human animals are my friends.

By the way, we don’t have a rule stating you cannot change the religion option on your profile, but you do need to ask a moderator to change it for you.

Ok thanks for the info. I'll deal with it later.

[Eric H]

Peace be with you Karl,

Hello Eric, well the reason I have Muslim on my profile is simply because it is the rules here that one is not allowed to alter his religion (or non religion).

Thanks for explaining.

Btw, I find it interesting that as a Christian (rather than a Muslim) you continually refer to God as Allah.

I am a guest on a Islamic forum and have a great respect for Muslims; and their way of life. My signature on this forum is, 'You will never look into the eyes of anyone who does not matter to God'. If you could only see someone's eyes, you would not be able to distinguish, race, religion, nationality etc. How does God look down on us, does he separate us and say, you are Chinese, or Indian or English, I will treat you according to your nationality.

I agree with you when you say we should be kind to animals also.

May Allah bless us with the wisdom to live in peace with each other.
Eric

[Eric H]

Peace be with you Muhammad,

Muslims and Hindus have lived peacefully with each other for decades.

I remember watching a short video on this forum some years ago. There was a Muslim and a Jew walking through a town together in their traditional costumes. This was at a time when there was some hostility between Jews and Muslims. Just walking together seemed to attract a positive reaction.

As you say, you already have a foundation of peace between your communities. If your respective leaders were to ask for volunteers who would be willing to walk through town, Muslims and Hindus, together. This could create a visible sign of friendship between your communities. From my experience, two couples together would be a powerful witness. A male Hindu and Muslim together, with a female Hindu and Muslim together. You wouldn't really need an agenda, just being a visible sign of solidarity would be a sign of respect for your community. This could be done during the day or evening. Sikhs, Christians, etc could also be invited. Interfaith groups often arrange peace walks between places of worship.

It only takes one person with a passion and a vision for peace to start up such a scheme. You don't need any authority or qualifications, you only need to talk to people and float the idea. You need a solution for your generation, your children and grandchildren, something positive has to happen. I was the catalyst that encouraged Street Pastors to start up in our town, I had no authority or qualifications, but I have a passion for a kinder and more caring community. Togetherness and kindness can overcome violence.

May Allah bless you and your community with peace.
Eric

[Muhammad]

Hello Karl,

It's your religion that insists that hominins aren't animals, but hey I'm no longer a Muslim anyway so I am therefore under no obligation to believe this dogma. There is only animal, vegetable and mineral. I am not a mineral, nor am I a vegetable, therefore I am an ANIMAL, and I feel quite comfortable with that! "Mankind"? I don't identify as being part of this description known as "mankind" anyway, I only identify as being part of my RACE. If anyone would insult me by saying I am part of "mankind" that will be FIGHTIN' WORDS.

The fact that humans are different to animals is a fact of life. Animals do not have intellect or moral obligations like humans do. This does not mean we should mistreat them, rather Islam teaches kindness and good treatment to animals. Of course, you are free to believe whatever you want. But I think we are going off topic and I don't see the benefit of discussing this issue any further. If there is anything you would like to discuss about Islam then feel free to private message me or start a new thread.

[Muhammad]

Hello Eric,

As you say, you already have a foundation of peace between your communities. If your respective leaders were to ask for volunteers who would be willing to walk through town, Muslims and Hindus, together. This could create a visible sign of friendship between your communities.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Muslims and Hindus actually have been living in the same communities, studying together and working together. I think this stands as a more powerful testimony than two volunteers walking through town together.

[سيف الله]

Salaam

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[سيف الله]

Salaam

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Blurb

Join us for our second Ramadan live appeal on Saturday 8 April at 11pm (BST) where we will be showcasing how 5Pillars exposed Hindutva agitators in Leicester.
#hindutva #leicester

[سيف الله]

Salaam

Another update.

Far-right Hindutva nationalists fuelled Leicester violence, finds new evidence

British security source argues that activists connected to Narendra Modi and the BJP are to blame for instigating and perpetuating violence in Leicester last year

AUK security source suggests there is evidence of far-right Hindu rioters conversing in closed WhatsApp groups with supporters of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP party. Such conversations are argued to have incited them into carrying out violence against Muslim youth in the English city of Leicester, last summer. [1]

While some reports suggest that the violence against Muslims was carried out after an India-Pakistan cricket match, the local community shared that tensions arose at least three months before the game.

Locals have explained that violence catapulted after a young Muslim man was senselessly attacked by Hindu youths in early May 2022. The subsequent cricket match was just another excuse for Hindutva-inspired youth to target and attack Muslims in the community. [2]

What is Hindutva?

Hindutva is a right-wing fascist ideology that drives the ruling party in India, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The BJP is currently in federal government and has been responsible for continued anti-Muslim sentiment for many years.

The same state-sponsored Islamophobic attacks which have been carried out in India have also been transported to the East Midlands city of Leicester. In the summer of 2022, over 200 Hindutva-supporting youth gathered in the streets in balaclavas, shouting nationalist and other provocative slogans.

Despite there being enough evidence to suggest that the violence was motivated by nationalist rhetoric perpetuated by the BJP and the paramilitary Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), little effort has been made by the British government to address the growing threat of the Hindutva ideology.

Is the UK government complicit in shoving the Hindutva threat under the carpet?

The current main leaders of the cabinet, i.e. Suella Braverman (the Home Secretary) and Rishi Sunak (the Prime Minister), have a track record of choosing to focus on harmful tropes directed at Muslims.

To this end, the pair recently perpetuated racist and Islamophobic stereotypes by erroneously linking most grooming gangs with Pakistani men, despite Home Office findings from 2020 revealing that the perpetrators of most child sexual abuse gangs were White men under the age of 30. [3]

These distasteful comments come at a time when the Muslim community already feels marginalised by some of the policies pushed by government. These policies are clearly targeting and discriminating against the Muslim community.

In addition, in the wake of Rishi Sunak’s leadership campaign, he vilified Islam by associating it with “extremism”. He also vowed to shift the focus from right-wing extremism to “Islamic extremism”, which he describes as the “single largest threat” to national security. [2] This is ironic, given that the British government chose to ignore the violence that was perpetuated by right-wing supremacist Hindutva groups against Muslims in Leicester.

Following the Leicester disorder, little support was given to the Muslim community. Nor was there any inkling of encouragement given to other members of the community to tackle and address the issue.

Hindutva mobs are the same groups that were involved in the Gujarat Genocide of 2002, on top of sanctioning and facilitating the daily persecution and oppression of Muslims in India. [3]

So what is government doing to tackle Hindutva ideology, whose venom is infecting Britain?

A recent report by the Henry Jackson Society (HJS) belittled hostility towards Muslims in Leicester and ignored the possibility of foreign influences, despite enough evidence indicating that tensions abroad were being exported to the UK.

HJS research fellow Charlotte Littlewood commented on the new evidence via a social media post:

HSS is the UK’s RSS equivalent!

Amongst other problematic normalisations of the harmful ideology is the existence of RSS affiliate groups such as the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS), which, incredibly, is a UK-registered charity that has over 100 branches. It has been established in the country for over 50 years.

The HSS charity remains open, despite a covert investigative documentary by ITV that exposed HSS leadership to be inciting violence against Muslims and nurturing its students to discriminate against Muslims. [4]

Maybe it is time that the Charity Commission investigated the impartiality (or lack thereof) of charities like the HSS and HJS, and their support of BJP and RSS sympathisers, especially since these organisations are responsible for the daily persecution and oppression of Muslims in India! [5]

https://www.islam21c.com/news/far-ri...ster-violence/

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[jessamin]

May Modi face comeuppance for his wicked actions, inshallah

[Eric H]

Peace be with you,

Apparently, if you put a hundred red ants; and a hundred black ants together in a jar, they will live peacefully together. If the jar is shaken, the red and black ants will start killing each other, thinking the other side is responsible. The same with people, we can live happily with each other despite our differences, that is until someone shakes our jar. Then we blame the other side.

The role of the peace maker is not so much to see who is in the wrong, but rather to find ways to bring people together despite our differences. After all, it is far more beneficial for the majority to live in peace with each other, than it is to live in fear.

Faith groups should be able to promote peace.

In the spirit of searching for a greatest meaning of ‘One God’.

Eric

[Eric H]

Peace be with you all,

Violence is violence, no matter what the causes may be. I do believe faith communities can come together ands make a difference. I would love to see an interfaith version of Street Pastors. I have been a Volunteer Street Pastor since 2008, we wonder the streets of our town until 3 – 4am on a Saturday morning. Our role is to care, listen and to help when we can. We come into contact with many wonderful people, deeply troubled souls and violence. We are members of different churches, in partnership with the police and council.

I can remember the first big fight we came across, and we faced a dilemma. Do we obey all the risk assessments, stand back and call the police, or do we walk towards the fight and pray as we go? As we approached, I saw a man punched to the ground, another was being kicked whilst on the ground, I saw a man swing round and punch a woman in the face.

Moments later we are in the middle of all this conflict. The most we can do is stand in the middle somewhere, and try and stop the guy in front, hitting the guy behind me. I hold out my hands to my side, it’s pointless saying anything. The only person I can calm down is me, I can’t change anyone else. I can only say, by focusing only on my peace, others around me seem to absorb my peace, I seem to absorb their anger. It feels like a sponge soaking up all the aggression.

After a while, the fight stops, we stay with them, people have been hurt, they are still angry. But when it comes time to leave, they are shaking our hands and giving us a hug. I was about 60 at the time, the two remarkable ladies I was with, were both in their 70’s. I cant remember how many times we have intervened in fights. We have been in the middle of 40 plus, when brokwn bottles have been used to cut someones face open. On two occasions, we have asked someone to hand over theit knife.

We don't go out in our strength, we put all things in God's handss and go. The most amazing thing for me is, I have never been hit in fifteen years, that is beyond my understanding, we give thanks to God for all the good things that happen.

[سيف الله]

Salaam

Another update.

A more general introduction to the subject.

Blurb

India’s 200 million Muslims are at the mercy of an ultra-nationalist government that looks to create an exclusively Hindu Bharat or homeland. Since the rise of the BJP government, led by Narendra Modi, Muslims have been subject to discrimination, alienation, daily religious abuse, economic marginalisation, state-sanctioned mob violence and pogroms like in Gujarat in 2002. This Hindu nationalism is underpinned by a pernicious cultural and political ideology, Hindutva, framed by an antagonism towards Islam and a rewriting of Indian history.

Our guest this week Professor Irfan Ahmad, helps us understand the precarious state of India’s Muslims and the Hindutva ideology. Born in India, he now lives in Istanbul, where he is a professor of sociology and anthropology at Ibn Haldun University. Prior to istanbul he was research professor in Germany at Max Plank institute and he has taught anthropology and politics in the Netherlands and Australia He has written numerous books and articles on India and Islam and recently published a provocative piece on Hindu Orientalism.

[سيف الله]

Salaam

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Blurb

Ayodhya has been one of the most hotly contested arguments on the planet - in theory affecting well over a billion people. In his speech today consecrating the new Hindu temple there, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi said people would talk of this in a thousand years time.

The temple is where Hindus believe the deity Ram was born - akin to Jesus for Christians. And in 1992 a Hindu mob tore down a sixteenth century Muslim mosque they claimed had been built on the ruins of the original Hindu temple. In the last thirty years alone thousands have died over this. In a nation where religion and politics were supposed to be separate - they became more intertwined than ever today.