Newsletter (Feb 2024): IRS complaint against Hindu far-right hate group & more
As salamu alaykum!
In February, IAMC national and chapters engaged in various activities, including holding a congressional briefing on the US-India arms deal amid human rights violations in the country. Our engagements included radio appearances, news coverage, and our concerted efforts to hold American Hindu far-right groups accountable for promoting hate speech. Here’s an overview of our activities during February.
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- Filed an official complaint with the IRS and the Attorney Generals of Texas and Mississippi against the TX-based Hindu far-right hate group Global Hindu Heritage Foundation (GHHF)
- Held a well-attended Congressional Briefing on the Biden administration’s proposed arms deal with India
- Submitted a case study in a newly released report on the Indian government’s online censorship of the Indian diaspora
- Featured on Jewish Currents “On the Nose” podcast and KPFA’s “Law & Disorder” radio show
- Published op-eds on civil rights movements in the US & India and on the connection between the American far right and Hindu supremacy
- Had press mentions in the Dallas Morning News, India Today, The Dispatch, and more
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HOLDING HATE GROUPS ACCOUNTABLE
IAMC successfully led a coalition of human rights organizations in filing a complaint with the Internal Revenue Service and the Attorney Generals of Texas and Mississippi, calling for an investigation into the Texas-based Hindu far-right hate group called Global Hindu Heritage Foundation (GHHF).
This group is responsible for posting anti-Muslim and anti-Christian hate on its website, collaborating with and glorifying cow vigilante groups, and raising money to help pay for the demolition of churches in India. It has also used US dollars to fund forcible conversion of Muslims and Christians in India, force closure of Muslim businesses in India, and promote prominent anti-Muslim Indian politicians in the U.S.
We led the charge in exposing GHHF’s campaign to demolish churches, but we didn’t stop with just protests and media outreach. Following a thorough 5-month investigation by our attorneys into the group’s activities, we filed a complaint on January 29, 2024.
CONGRESSIONAL BRIEFING FT. AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL, HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
IAMC hosted a smashingly successful Congressional Briefing on Capitol Hill, which was well attended by dozens of staffers. The briefing, titled “US Arms Sales to India: The role of the US Congress,” discussed the Biden administration’s intent to sell the Indian government 31 armed MQ-9 reaper drones with accompanying munitions, which are often used to assassinate civilians in targeted strikes.
Featured speakers included Carolyn Nash, Asia Advocacy Director at Amnesty International USA; John Sifton, Asia Advocacy Director at Human Rights Watch; Ari Tolany, Director at the Security Assistance Monitor for International Policy; and Ria Chakrabarty, Policy Director at Hindus for Human Rights.
Watch the full briefing here.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE MASSAH MEETING
On February 27, IAMC’s advocacy team participated in the quarterly Department of Justice MASSAH meeting. This roundtable discussion enables Arab, Hindu, Muslim, Sikh and South Asian community groups to bring their concerns before federal agencies such as the DoJ Civil Rights Division, the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, the TSA, and the Department of Education.
While these meetings cover a broad array of concerns, this quarter’s meeting was focused primarily on concerns of Islamophobia in federal policies and preventing hate crimes towards individuals and places of worship. IAMC was able to provide a valuable perspective on this issue, highlighting the issue of Hindutva-driven Islamophobia.
PRESENTATION TO COALITION PARTNERS
The Coalition of South Asian Organizations against Hindu Intolerance held a meeting on February 6th, and began with the IAMC advocacy team’s presentation on Hindu Nationalism and Transnational Linkages.
The session provided an overview of Hindutva’s connection to rising Islamophobia and anti-Sikh sentiment within the United States. The briefing emphasized the dangers posed by Hindu nationalism to peace and social cohesion, not only within South Asian American and American Muslim communities but for the nation as a whole.
IAMC MEDIA TEAM
This February, we broke new ground by not just writing op-eds, but by submitting a case story to a crucial report on online censorship, and by joining podcasts and radio shows to talk about Hindu supremacy in both the US and India.
Be sure to read our case study submission to the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund’s (SALDEF) new report, “Virtually Vulnerable: Exposing the Human Cost of Digital Harassment”, where we talk about the Indian government’s banning of the IAMC X account and the digital repression of Indian Muslims.
You can read our op-eds here:
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- The Black Wall Street Times: Connecting threads between oppression in U.S. and India
- The Progressive Magazine: Why White Nationalists Are Working with Hindu Supremacists
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Check our our podcasts and interviews here:
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- Jewish Currents, On the Nose: Hindu Nationalism’s New Temple
- KPFA, Law & Disorder with Cat Brooks: Hindu Nationalism and Its White Supremacist Ties w/ Safa Ahmed
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IAMC was also mentioned 4 times in US and international media outlets, including in the Dallas Morning News, India Today, The Dispatch, and Breaking News Network (BNN). You can see all of our press mentions here.
CHAPTER ACTIVITIES
As we approach Ramadan, our chapters are gearing up for focused campaigns to educate their communities about the threats posed by Hindutva. Read more about their achievements below:
Maryland:
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- Formed a dedicated new team to tackle Hindutva in Maryland
- Planning for Ramadan roadshow to educate local masjid communities on Hindutva
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Michigan:
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- Collaborated with AMDA Masjid to organize an event titled “Voices for Peace”, featuring Jewish Voices for Peace (JVP)
- Dedicated volunteers engaged in several protests across Michigan, advocating for a ceasefire in support of Palestine
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Richmond
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- Now conducting monthly meetings of the Chapter volunteers
- Reserved slots in area masajid for Ramadan roadshow
- Running Peace and Justice Campaign. Anticipate taking 100s of Ramadan greetings with a message to Virginia lawmakers next week.
- Building alliances with other social justice organizations within Virginia
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More
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