Hindutva Watch is an independent research project that documents hate crimes and hate speech against religious minorities in India. Founded by Raqib Hameed Naik, the project focuses on tracking hate crimes and human rights abuses committed by radicalized Hindus and Hindutva militia groups in the country.
| Established | April 2021, 01 |
|---|---|
| Type | Independent research initiative |
| Purpose | Monitoring and documenting hate crimes and human rights abuses in India |
| Headquarters | Cambridge, USA |
Region | India |
Founder | Raqib Hameed Naik |
| Website | hindutvawatch |
Background edit
Hindutva Watch was established in April 2021 in response to the growing concern over the rise of hate crimes and violence targeting minority groups in India.[1] The organization employs a real-time data collection methodology to track and catalog instances of violent attacks, hate speech, and human rights violations against communities based on their faith, including Muslims, Christians, and members of lower-ranked castes.[2][3]
Methodology edit
Hindutva Watch collects evidence from various sources, including video and picture submissions from Indian activists, news aggregation, social media platforms, and messaging apps. The organization's network of volunteers, which spans across the world, verifies and validates the information before it is documented on their website. Hindutva Watch also holds virtual meetings to discuss and verify reports of hate crimes, ensuring the accuracy of their data.[2][4]
Impact edit
Since its inception, Hindutva Watch has documented and cataloged over 1,000 instances of violent attacks, hate speech, and other forms of human rights abuses against minority and marginalized communities in India.[5] The organization's work serves as a critical source of evidence for researchers, journalists, lawmakers, and activists who seek to address and combat hate crimes in the country.[2][4]
The Hindutva Watch initiative operates with an 11-member team of online researchers, situated across the United States, Canada, and Europe. While predominantly volunteers, this team has managed to exert a significant influence on the discourse surrounding Indian politics. Their efforts have not gone unnoticed, with a notable example being the incorporation of nine Hindutva Watch reports into a recent Supreme Court of India petition in August 2023. These reports highlighted cases where the police failed to take action against incidents of communal violence. The Supreme Court petition called for enhanced preventive measures to address such occurrences.[1]
International media outlets like Al Jazeera English,[6] Los Angeles Times,[7] Reuters and more use it as authentic source for tracking attacks on minorities in India.[8]
Controversies edit
Hindutva Watch's efforts to document hate crimes have drawn both praise and criticism. Supporters applaud the organization's dedication to preserving evidence of human rights violations, while critics argue that the initiative may be biased or selective in its reporting.[9][2]
On 16 January 2024, the X account, formerly known as Twitter, associated with Hindutva Watch was withheld within India due to a legal demand. A search for the website's X handle, boasting a substantial following of over 77,000, yielded a blank page accompanied by a notice confirming the regulatory action.[10]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b Purohit, Kunal (12 August 2023). "India's hate crimes are being logged, by exiles Modi's BJP want silenced". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
- ^ a b c d Verma, Pranshu (16 January 2023). "Tracking rising religious hatred in India, from half a world away". Washington Post. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
- ^ Kulkarni, Bhargavi (22 January 2023). "A Rebel in the Crosshairs: Founder of Hindutva Watch Says He's Forced to Live in the Shadows in the United States". American Kahani. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
- ^ a b "Twitter suspends Hindutva Watch account on Modi government's 'request'". NRI Affairs. 24 June 2021. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
- ^ "Raja Singh hate speech: Twitter withholds tweets on Centre's directions". The Siasat Daily. 1 April 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
- ^ "Anti-Muslim hate speech in India spikes around elections, report says". Al Jazeera. 26 September 2023. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
- ^ M.N., Parth (30 October 2023). "Hate crimes and hate speech are on the rise in India. Meet the trackers". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
- ^ Singh, Kanishka (26 September 2023). "Anti-Muslim hate speech in India concentrated around elections, report finds". Reuters. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
- ^ ""Attempt to intimidate and silence us," Hindutva Watch condemns police complaint by right-wing leader". Maktoob media. 12 June 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
- ^ Bhaumik, Aaratrika (27 January 2024). "Blocking of Hindutva Watch and the prevalence of social media censorship in India". The Hindu. Retrieved 29 January 2024.