CoHNA and CIJA Host Summit to Address Rising Hinduphobia and Antisemitism in Canada

Toronto, November 26, 2024 – As religious intolerance rises in Canada, with minority groups feeling increasingly vulnerable due to antisemitism and Hinduphobia, academic experts showcased how big data and technology can be harnessed to combat hate. Hosted by the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) and the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) at the University of Toronto, the exclusive invitation-only event, “Hinduphobia and Antisemitism: Examining Patterns and Building Alliances,” brought together academics, advocates, and community members to explore solutions. Its timeliness was further underscored by the recent horrendous antisemitic attacks in Montreal.

Speakers from the Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI), provided in-depth analyses of hate speech patterns across social media platforms. They stressed that effective solutions require more community collaboration, data-driven strategies, and strong policy responses.

Dr. Joel Finkelstein, Chief Science Officer and Cofounder at NCRI, and Senior Research Fellow at the Miller Center for Community Protection and Resilience, Rutgers University, addressed the broader challenge of combating extremist groups online. “We live in an era of information disorder, made worse by social media. During conflict or uncertainty, people tune into their online echo chambers instead of engaging in meaningful discourse in person, causing societal polarization,” he remarked.

Dr. Finkelstein highlighted how the Jewish community has tracked antisemitic threats using AI and called for the Canadian Jewish community to establish cyber threat monitoring centers. He also urged the Hindu diaspora, particularly its large number of professionals in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), to leverage their expertise in AI, machine learning, and similar technologies to tackle extremist threats faced by the community. “If we can outpace the extremist groups, find and remove their protections, and punish them legally, we can win,” he said, stressing the need for immediate action against extremist propaganda.

Ms. Prasiddha Sudhakar, an NCRI analyst, and Researcher at the Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy, Carnegie Mellon University, shared her success in leveraging big data to counter anti-Hindu bias during the 2022 Leicester riots in the UK.  As the lead author of the NCRI report on the Leicester violence, she highlighted how the report analyzed patterns of disinformation and its role in debunking media inaccuracies. “After Bloomberg misled with their report, they were called out by NCRI, and after several conversations and a strong pushback, they issued a correction. Without data-driven insights, this wouldn’t have been possible,” she explained. She also added that NCRI presented insights from the report to British lawmakers investigating the incidents.

Next Steps

Ms. Sudhakar encouraged social justice advocates to leverage technology, specifically urging Hindu scholars to use AI and other tools to examine anti-Hindu hate. Amplifying her call, Mr. Rishabh Sarswat, President of CoHNA Canada, emphasized the importance of such efforts: “By empowering our youth with advanced technological tools, we can expose malicious misinformation campaigns against our communities, craft impactful responses, and hold our governments accountable. At a time when we see Nazi salutes on our streets and hear violent calls for the expulsion of Hindus from Canada, this event highlights how technology and the talent of our youth can protect our communities from hate.”

Mr. Sarswat’s comments must be viewed against the backdrop of recent antisemitic attacks in Montreal and Toronto, and Hinduphobic assaults on temples in Brampton and Surrey, which underscore the dire consequences of biased policing, political inaction, and institutional prejudice.

Several Hindu and Jewish groups attended the event, highlighting the growing allyship between the two communities. These included Hindu Forum Canada, Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh, Canadian National Council of Hindus, Canadian Organization for Hindu Heritage Education, Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), Dwarpalakas, Canadian Hindu Chamber of Commerce, Canada India Foundation, CoHNA Youth Action Network, and Hindu Students Council, as well as the Canadian Institute for Jewish Research, Canadian Antisemitism Education Foundation, Allied Voices for Israel, One Global Voice, Canadian Women Against Antisemitism, and Jewish Educators and Families Association.

The lively Q&A session underscored a shared interest in understanding each community’s challenges, such as political apathy toward rising antisemitism and the Khalistani threat to Hindus. The event has inspired organizations to foster deeper collaboration.

The event also highlighted the need for continued dialogue and collaboration. “Today’s event was a vital step toward building meaningful alliances. Together, we can combat hate and work toward a safer, inclusive future for every community. Hate against any one community affects us all,” said Mr. Dario Chaiquin, CIJA’s Associate Director of National External Affairs.