Hindus For Human Rights

Photo essay: Clergy demonstrate against ICE in Minneapolis (RNS) — Visual news coverage of recent faith-based responses to immigration enforcement actions in Minnesota.

Powerful images from Minnesota show faith in action — protest, prayer, memorials & more. HfHR contributed and is among those pictured. 📷 religionnews.com/2026/01/26/p...

As India marks Republic Day, we return to a Constitution born in the shadow of global upheaval—and shaped by a fierce belief in pluralism, justice, and democracy.

In today’s unsettled world, that vision remains unfinished—and urgently relevant.

The 'theology of showing up' is making Minneapolis a holy place (RNS) — The people of Minneapolis, too, are responding and resisting in unspeakably brave, radically loving ways that we will speak of for years to come.

Writing from Minneapolis, HfHR ED Sunita Viswanath argues that faith today means bodies, risk, and non-cooperation—not distance or symbolism.
religionnews.com/2026/01/25/t...

As Hindutva groups celebrate shutdown of medical institute in Jammu, students are left adrift On January 7, the National Medical Commission (NMC) revoked the recognition of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME) in Jammu, Communal tensions, Jammu & Kashmir, Kashmir,…

When ideological triumphalism meets policy failure, students lose. A troubling account of the shutdown of a medical institute in Jammu and the celebration around it.
maktoobmedia.com/features/as-...

How The State Assails Muslim Livelihoods in the Modi Era From boycotting Halal products to sweeping changes in the Waqf Act, the BJP government has relied on bizarre conspiracy theories to strip Muslims of dignity at work.

When livelihoods are targeted, citizenship itself is put at risk. This is a sobering look at how state power has been used to squeeze Muslim economic life in the Modi era.
thewire.in/communalism/...

Our Lady of the Upside Down Note: The following piece contains major spoilers for the final episode of Stranger Things.Stranger Things, Netflix’s critically acclaimed sci-fi/horror/fantasy series, is a love letter to 1980s pop…

Stranger Things doesn’t just “name-drop” Kali—it drops her into a massive pop-culture machine, as fierce, protective, and complicated.

As @Hindu4HR’s Sunita Viswanath notes: flattening Hinduism often means sanding down Kali’s unruly power.

On Saraswati Puja and Vasant Panchami, we celebrate learning in all its forms—formal and informal, ancient and evolving.

May knowledge remain our shared inheritance

From Selma to Minneapolis: How Dr. King’s Call Lives On in Today’s Faith Movements<br/><br/> — Hindus for Human Rights A Hindus for Human Rights reflection on answering Dr. King’s call today—from Selma’s Bloody Sunday to a multifaith convergence in Minneapolis, connecting racial justice, immigration, and global…

From Selma to Minneapolis, Dr. King’s call still echoes. Hindus for Human Rights is on the ground with multifaith partners, reflecting on immigrant justice, racial solidarity, and moral consistency in this moment. www.hindusforhumanrights.org/en/blog/answ...

Kashmiri journalists reporting for national dailies are being summoned, harassed, and pressured by J&K Police for routine stories.

This is not accountability — it’s intimidation.
And it deepens the climate of fear that has defined media work in Kashmir since 2019.
thewire.in/media/kashmi...

Martin Luther King Jr. is often treated like a national heirloom. But MLK Day arrives this year with a sharper edge—because the meaning of the day is being contested in real time.

How can we reapply ourselves to MLK's practices and commitment to civil and human rights this year? ⬇️

Hindu nationalism and white supremacy played a central role in the 2024 race riots Far-right Hindu nationalists are finding a natural home among the British far-right through their shared hatred of Muslims

What role did Hindu nationalism play alongside white supremacy in the UK’s 2024 race riots?

Rajiv Sinha, Executive Director of Hindus for Human Rights UK, traces the global far-right links behind the violence. www.thecanary.co/opinion/2026...

When a racist refusal of the Eucharist becomes a tool for competing nationalisms (RNS) — When religious nationalism collides with racial nationalism, they don’t cancel each other out — they compare notes.

A viral clip about refusing Communion from an Indian woman quickly became more than a moment of bias—it turned into content various nationalist projects could use. Thoughtful analysis on RNS by HfHR's own David Kalal: religionnews.com/2026/01/16/w...

This report from the UN is yet another reminder of the Sri Lankan Army's systematic war crimes against Hindu Tamils during the Sri Lanka Civil War:
www.hrw.org/news/2026/01...

Social media posts case: Court cancels bail of Imaan, Hadi after non-appearances, tensions in courtroom Harsh remarks traded by Islamabad bar association president and prosecutor, leading to chaos in courtroom.

We are outraged that a district court revoked Imaan Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha's bail. The Pakistan government continues to punish Imaan and Hadi for their fearless advocacy for human rights and accountability in Pakistan. www.dawn.com/news/1967100...

Beth Israel Congregation in Jackson, MS—already a site marked by past racist terror—was set on fire again. This is what antisemitism looks like in real life: sacred space turned into a target. We must protect each other and reject all forms of religious hatred. www.cnn.com/2026/01/13/u...

Sovereignty at Stake: Indian Diaspora Groups Slam US ‘Abduction’ of Maduro - NRI Affairs The January 3 military operation by United States special forces to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, has sparked a

Indian diaspora groups across the US have been condemning the Trump administration's kidnapping of President Maduro and his wife.

In addition to HfHR's statement, Diaspora in Action for Human Rights and Democracy and Mayor Zohran Mamdani have also spoken out.

Wishing you a joyful Pongal! 🌾
May the pot overflow with goodness—and our hearts with generosity. 🫶

Makar Sankranti / Uttarayan greetings! 🪁
Wishing you clear skies, strong bonds, and a year shaped by courage and kindness. ☀️

Happy Lohri! 🔥 May the fire carry our gratitude upward—and our worries away. Warmth shared, joy multiplied. Happy Lohri! 🔥

Outside White House, faith leaders mourn Renee Good, call for accountability (RNS) — 'A system that relies on fear, force and death to manage human beings is not broken at the edges. It is broken and rotten at the core,' the Rev. Abhi Janamanchi said. 'Stop excusing violence.…

On January 9th, over 50 faith leaders gathered outside the White House to mourn the death of #ReneeNicoleGood.

Among them was Reverend Abhi Janamanchi, senior minister at Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Congregation and HfHR Advisory Board Member.

HRF urges UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention to rule India’s detention of activist Umar Khalid arbitrary and unlawful Discover our mission and dedication to protecting human rights across the globe.

Human Rights Foundation urges the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention to rule Umar Khalid’s 5+ years in jail without trial “arbitrary and unlawful” after India’s Supreme Court denied bail. Dissent isn’t terrorism. Free Umar Khalid. hrf.org/latest/hrf-u...

US Imperialism in 2026 and Prayers of Resistance We must pray (for peace) with our resistance. For imperialists are not peaceable.

Peace language. Imperial practice.
Maung Zarni, SAMA Award winner with Hindus for Human Rights, traces how US imperial logic—oil, regime change, violence—continues into 2026.
Prayer, he argues, must walk with resistance. maungzarni.substack.com/p/us-imperia...

Supreme Court Denies Bail to Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam After 5 Years Under UAPA — Hindus for Human Rights HfHR condemns India Supreme Court’s denial of bail to Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam after five years in UAPA detention, urging due process and accountability.

Hindus for Human Rights urges the Supreme Court of India to reverse its decision to deny bail to Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, who have been detained in pre-trial detention under the draconian Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. We call for Khalid and Imam’s immediate release.

Hindus for Human Rights Condemns U.S. Military Assault and “Trusteeship” Claims in Venezuela; Calls for De-Escalation, Due Process, and a Venezuelan-Led Transition — Hindus for Human Rights — Hindus for Human Rights Hindus for Human Rights condemns U.S. military assault and “trusteeship” claims in Venezuela, calling for de-escalation, due process, and a Venezuelan-led transition.

Hindus for Human Rights (HfHR) condemns the United States’ weekend military action in Venezuela, including airstrikes and the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores.

Read our full statement:

Sunny Jain's Love Force Symphony Space is a performing arts center on the Upper West Side of Manhattan offering theater, film, literature, music, dance and family entertainment. Our mission is to connect art, ideas, and…

🗽 NYC Friends: Don't miss Sunny Jain's Love Force, a bold, new multimedia work from the percussionist, composer, and bandleader behind the Red Baraat!

📆 Friday, January 9th, 2026

📍 Peter Jay Sharp Theatre

🔗 Buy tix:

Faith leaders from across NYC welcome Mayor Zohran Mamdani!

Faith communities are integral to the civic life of NYC, and ICNY and the faith leaders they work alongside are looking forward to working with the Mamdani administration to support New Yorker's needs.

2026 is HERE! 🪩

A new year means new dreams, new goals, new accomplishments, new experiences, new friendships, new collaborations, and so much more. ✨

We hope you had a wonderful end of 2025, and we can't wait to continue our Hindus for Human Rights journey with you in #2026!💫

Umar Khalid has spent 5+ years jailed without trial—a stain on any democracy. We welcome this Congressional push urging bail and a fair, timely trial in line with international law. Due process isn’t optional. Free Umar Khalid. #FreeUmarKhalid #ReleasePoliticalPrisoners

Kabir is one of the most recognizable names in the world of Hindu poetry.

But who was Kabir, and how does he connect with the broader Bhakti movement?

Our newest article breaks down some FAQs on all things #Kabir.

Homebound, India’s submission to the Oscars, is one of the finest films of the year — Hindus for Human Rights The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced their Oscars shortlist for several awards categories, including International Feature Film. The list includes director Neeraj Ghaywan’s…

Our Western Regional Organizer, Vivek Kembaiyan, writes a review for our blog on Homebound, India's submission to the Oscars.

The film follows the friendship of two young men, Chandan and Shoaib, and how identity, caste, and religion shape their lives.