Anti-Muslim hate speech on the rise in India, research group reveals
India experienced an average of almost two instances of anti-Muslim hate speech every day in 2023, according to new figures from a US-based research group.
A large majority of these incidents occurred in states governed by the Hindu right-wing nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led by prime minister Narendra Modi, according to a report published this week by the India Hate Lab (IHL), a research group based in Washington, DC.
The frequency of hate speech peaked from August to November last year – a period that coincided withand voting phases in four key state elections. India is heading for a general election in the coming months, with Mr Modi seeking a rare third term in power.
