Anti-minority hate speech rose sharply in India in 2025
Incidents of hate speech targeting religious minorities in India increased by 13 percent in 2025, according to a new report released on Tuesday by the Washington-based India Hate Lab, raising renewed concerns over the country’s social and political climate.
The research group documented 1,318 instances of hate speech last year, up from 1,165 in 2024 and 668 in 2023. The incidents were recorded at political rallies, religious processions, protest marches and cultural events across the country. Muslims and Christians were the most frequent targets, the report said.
According to the findings, 1,164 of the documented cases occurred in states and union territories governed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), either alone or through coalition arrangements. The report noted a strong correlation between political mobilisation and spikes in inflammatory rhetoric.
April saw the highest number of incidents, with 158 cases reported. Nearly two-thirds occurred in the weeks following a deadly militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir on April 22 and during the subsequent escalation of hostilities between India and Pakistan in early May.
Rights organisations have long warned of growing hostility toward minorities in India since Modi took office in 2014. Groups such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have pointed to policies including a religion-based citizenship law, anti-conversion legislation, the revocation of Kashmir’s special status and the demolition of Muslim-owned properties as contributing factors.
India Hate Lab, founded by US-based Kashmiri journalist Raqib Hameed Naik, said it applies the United Nations definition of hate speech, which covers discriminatory or prejudicial language based on religion, ethnicity, nationality, race or gender. The BJP has previously dismissed the group’s findings as biased, while Indian authorities have yet to comment on the latest report.
.png "Advertisement")
