PRESS RELEASE: Protest and Condemnation: Hindus for Human Rights UK Opposes White Nationalist and Hindutva Alignment
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
London, UK – Hindus for Human Rights UK issued the following statement regarding Tommy Robinson’s far-right rally held this past Saturday in London, as well as the platforming of Robinson and other far-right extremists by Hindu supremacist outlets:
Savera Report
We strongly condemn the growing alliance between Hindu supremacists and white supremacists. This alliance, exemplified by the recent platforming of notorious far-right activist Tommy Robinson on the Hindu supremacist PGurus channel, represents a dangerous convergence between the Hindu nationalist movement and the broader Far Right in the UK.
On Thursday, 25th July, Tommy Robinson was interviewed by Sree Iyer on PGurus — a California-based YouTube channel that has repeatedly spread virulent Hindu supremacist propaganda and hate speech — to promote his so-called “patriotic rally” that was scheduled for Saturday the 27th. Robinson is best known for having co-founded the English Defence League (EDL), which anti-racist group Hope not Hate has deemed a "racist" organisation and whose tactics have been characterised by scholars as “[reflecting] the fundamental characteristics of fascism.”In the interview with Iyer, Robinson repeated the baseless, disingenuous assertions that since October 7th, "we've seen the confidence and the aggression on our streets across the West, not just in the UK, but the takeover of our streets by jihadist organisations, jihadist groups". He also employed the damaging trope of Muslims trying to "take over London," and even went so far as to claim that "Islam has our entire political elite and our police force absolutely paralysed with fear". These are dangerous, fearmongering lies wrapped up in blatant Islamophobia, and we condemn them unequivocally.
Celebrations in the UK over the victory of BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Photo: X (Twitter)/@shishirkb
The alliance of the Hindu supremacist and white supremacist far-right is deeply alarming. Reports released earlier this year by the Savera coalition have highlighted the growing collaboration between the Hindu Far Right and domestic far-right movements in the United States, and we know that this is taking place in the UK as well—during the unrest of Leicester 2022, for example, Robinson similarly fanning the flames to stoke division between Hindus and Muslims.
These connections are particularly notable and concerning given the recent development of Hindutva activity in the UK during the general election campaign, when Hindutva organisations put out a so-called “Hindu Manifesto” that secured endorsements from approximately 25 candidates across the political spectrum. At the time, we condemned that initiative for its blatant attempts to whitewash the violent ideology of Hindu supremacy, and we echo that condemnation once again today.
Hindus for Human Rights UK attended the counterprotest of Robinson’s rally on Saturday 27th July to stand against the Far Right and racism in central London. We call on our public figures to condemn this exclusionary hate politics and support efforts to unite rather than divide.
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Press Contact:
Rajiv Sinha Director, Hindus for Human Rights UK