NEW YORK (Diya TV) — As the FBI publishes its 2023 report on hate crimes, the number of anti-Hindu hate crimes increased by 56% – from just 25 incidents in 2022 to 39 in 2023 – although reporting is up. The report notes, however, a deep-seated problem with underreporting; 16.5% of U.S. police departments submitted little to no hate crime data this year. This gap raises worries about the accuracy of the statistics and gives another nudge to push for greater accountability.
The FBI releases an annual report listing crimes against individuals by race, religion, or sexual orientation. But this data is not thought to be definitive as since many local police departments fail to report data. Although crimes are on the rise against Hindus, the mandate for complete participation in reporting data continues to be one of the challenges in putting together an assessment of the extent of hate-motivated crimes in this area.
Countering these alarmingly high statistics are advocates pushing for HR 7648 – a bill introduced into Congress that amends hate crime reporting and accountability. The proposed legislation will increase police participation in the FBI’s data collection system by offering additional resources but imposing penalties for noncompliance.
The HR 7648 would require law enforcement agencies to provide timely and periodic reports of hate crime data, and provide funds to help departments enhance their methods of collecting information. According to supporters, including civil rights organizations and Hindu advocacy groups, without full reporting, many hate crimes are left unaddressed with victims not receiving justice.
“Hate crimes already harm our communities, but when we fail to capture the full picture due to inadequate reporting, the problem only worsens,” said Rep. Grace Meng (D-N.Y.), a prominent supporter of the bill. “HR 7648 ensures every hate crime incident is reported, and every victim is recognized.”
There is growing fear in the Hindu community; increased anti-Hindu hate crimes are prompting leaders to call for stronger action from both local and federal governments. The Hindu American Foundation stresses the need for comprehensive data in order to understand and act better towards the situation in support of the affected communities.
“The rise in hate crimes targeting Hindus is really distressing, said Suhag Shukla, the foundation’s executive director. “What’s more troubling is that we feel that these are vastly underreported. Until full cooperation with law enforcement, we’ll never have a clear view of the depth of the problem.”
At the same time as an overall upward trend in hate crimes against several other minority groups-including Jews, Muslims, and Asians-the FBI says anti-Hindu hate crimes have increased. Curbs on hate crimes and integration are now being discussed in cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and Houston, where hate-motivated violence has surged.
