
The Hindus for Human Rights (HFHR) & The Humanism Project (THP), Australia based Indian Diaspora organisations issued a joint statement (emailed to South Asia Times) on January 17, 2025, “challenging Misrepresentation of Indian and Australian Communities” after article/reports in “The Nightly and The Australian have sought to frame debates around religious hatred and diaspora politics in ways that misrepresent the diversity of the Indian community and distort the actions of the Albanese government.”
The Statement:
“As organisations that represent the rich regional, linguistic, and religious diversity of the Indian diaspora in Australia, Hindus for Human Rights, Australia and New Zealand (HfHR ANZ) and The Humanism Project reject these narratives for the following reasons:
“The Hindu Council of Australia (HCA) Does Not Speak for All Indians or Hindus
The HCA’s assertions do not reflect the pluralism of the Indian diaspora or the diversity within Hinduism itself. Hinduism, as one of the world’s most diverse and decentralised faiths, has no single organisation that can claim to represent all Hindus. The HCA’s self-appointed authority in this regard marginalises the vast array of perspectives within the Hindu community, many of whom may disagree with its statements and positions.
Conflating Hindu representation with Indian representation ignores the multiplicity of faiths, languages, and cultural traditions within the Indian diaspora, including Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, atheists, and others. These groups, too, are stakeholders in shaping Australia’s multicultural identity and deserve equitable representation. By privileging the views of one particular group and disregarding the rich mosaic of voices within the diaspora, these publications present a skewed and incomplete picture of the broader community’s views on these critical issues.
Similarly, the Jewish groups with which the HCA claims solidarity cannot speak for all Jewish Australians. The growing participation of Jewish Australians in pro-Palestine rallies across the country and the globe demonstrates the diversity of opinion within the Jewish community. Attempts to generalise the views of entire communities overlook this essential plurality.
The Accusations Against the Albanese Government Are a Disingenuous Attempt to Promote Islamophobia
The accusation that the Albanese government is ‘failing to clamp down on anti-Semitism’ is a false flag designed to foster division, particularly between Jewish and Muslim Australians, and to promote a shared Islamophobic agenda. The Albanese government has courted pro- Israel elements within the Jewish community, even while it offers concern over human rights violations in Palestine.
While there are legitimate questions around whether Australia should do more to hold Israel to account for the ongoing carnage in Gaza, we welcome Australia voting for a ceasefire along with 152 other nations, committing over $90 million in humanitarian aid once a truce is declared, and doubling aid to UNWRA. Further, we support the efforts to create a Declaration on Protection of Humanitarian Personnel and working with partners like Canada and New Zealand to support the independence of the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court and supporting Palestinian UN membership aspirations.
To accuse the government of failing Jewish Australians while ignoring the atrocities in Gaza reflects a selective and politically motivated concern for human rights. True advocacy against hatred and intolerance cannot align itself with the oppression of any community, whether Palestinian, Jewish, or otherwise.
Divisive Narratives Harm Australia’s Multicultural Fabric
Attempts to frame diaspora politics as a zero-sum game, where support for one community comes at the expense of another, are deeply harmful. These narratives undermine the shared struggles of diverse communities for equality and justice. For example, the false suggestion that addressing anti-Semitism must inherently involve ignoring Islamophobia creates unnecessary division among groups that could, and often do, work together to combat hatred in all its forms.
It is particularly egregious to characterise criticism of the Israeli government’s actions in Gaza as anti-Semitism. Such a framing silences legitimate human rights advocacy and conflates opposition to state violence with prejudice against a faith. A principled stance on human rights requires holding all states, including Israel, accountable for violations, regardless of the faiths or ethnicities involved.
A Call for Inclusive, Evidence-Based Advocacy
Hindus for Human Rights and The Humanism Project urge community organisations, commentators to refrain from presenting narrow, exclusionary views as representative of entire communities. Instead, advocacy should embrace the diversity of perspectives within and across communities, prioritising universal principles of justice, equality, and human rights.
We call on the Albanese government to uphold its commitment to multicultural harmony by rejecting divisive narratives, addressing Islamophobia and anti-Semitism equitably, and taking a principled stance on international human rights issues, including the ongoing crisis in Gaza. Only by fostering mutual respect and solidarity can we build a society that values the dignity of all its members.”
The Hindu Council of Australia (HCA) has been contacted to respond to the above statement and a response is awaited. It will be published here as and when received.
The statements, views and opinions expressed in this article/report/video/viewpoint/opinion are solely those of the author/organisation/organisations and do not necessarily represent the editorial policies of the South Asia Times (SAT) or www.southasiatimes.com.au