Statement on the Role of ‘Hindu nationalist extremism’ in the Leicester Riots
A Government-commissioned report has warned of the dangers of “Hindu nationalist extremism” and its role in the Leicester riots—marking the first time Hindutva has been addressed at length in a major UK policy document. As we highlight in this piece by Imran Mulla for Middle East Eye, ignoring this threat “severely hinders efforts to understand and address divisions within communities.”
Read our full statement below:
Until now, politicians have been largely unwilling to fully acknowledge the role of Hindutva ideologies in the unrest we saw in Leicester in 2022. Failing to recognise its influence severely hinders efforts to understand and address divisions within communities. In this context, the Government-commissioned report’s recognition of Hindutva as an “extremist ideology” marks a crucial and positive step forward.
Community Policy Forum, in collaboration with the United Kingdom Indian Muslim Council (UKIMC), has conducted in-depth research into the lived experiences of Leicester’s Muslim communities during and after the unrest. Our upcoming report incorporates a comprehensive survey of local Muslim residents, highlighting their acute awareness and concern over the growing influence of Hindutva and its role in exacerbating communal tensions. The findings underscore how such hateful ideologies are sowing division and eroding the city’s once-harmonious community cohesion.
Our findings highlight the urgent need for decisive action. We call on the Government to:
- Monitor Ideological Influence: Authorities must assess and address the spread of transnational ideologies that threaten local harmony. This includes combatting hate speech and disinformation, particularly on social media.
- Prevent the Promotion of Hindutva Ideologies in Political Spaces: Hindutva voices should not be legitimised by platforming its proponents in the halls of power – such as when Tapan Ghosh was hosted in Parliament in 2017 (Ghosh has openly endorsed the Rohingya genocide, labelled all Muslims as “jihadis,” and advocated for forced birth control of Muslims).
- Implement Comprehensive Policing Reforms: To prevent civil unrest like the 2022 Leicester disturbances, fair and community-centred policing is essential. Key measures include training officers to manage communal conflicts and address biases, establishing protocols to prevent provocative actions like unauthorised marches, and fostering community policing initiatives to build trust with local communities.
- Commission an Impartial Review of the Leicester Unrest: The review of the Leicester unrest, led by Lord Ian Austin, has significant shortcomings and lacks community confidence, thereby rendering it unfit for purpose. The Government must initiate an impartial and comprehensive review, engaging with credible academic research to fully understand the impact of Hindutva ideologies on the political, social, and cultural fabric of the UK.