The connection between Hindu supremacists and white supremacists, especially when driven by shared Islamophobic sentiments, is a complex and troubling phenomenon. Historically, white supremacists have based their ideology on racial superiority, focusing their hatred on non-white communities, including brown-skinned people from South Asia. However, in recent times, there appears to be a convergence in ideology between some elements of Hindu nationalism (Hindutva) and white supremacist movements, particularly when it comes to Islamophobia.
Islamophobia, or the fear and hatred of islam and Muslims, has become a unifying factor for many such groups. This alignment isn't because they share cultural values but because they both view islam as a threat to their respective visions of national or racial purity. The hostility toward Muslims has been fueled by a combination of historical conflicts, global terrorism linked to extremist groups, and misinformation, all of which have been exploited for political gain.
Roots of Islamophobia and Hatred:
Historical Conflict: The long history of conflict between Islamic empires and other civilizations, such as the european Crusades and, in India’s case, centuries of Mughal rule, has left deep scars. Some people in both europe and india view islam as a historical conqueror, even though the context of those eras is vastly different from today.
Global Terrorism: Extremist groups like isis and al-Qaeda have committed atrocities in the name of islam, causing widespread fear and associating the religion with terrorism in the minds of many. This has fueled Islamophobic rhetoric, which demonizes an entire religion based on the actions of a fringe group.
Political Opportunism: In countries like india, the ruling party, BJP, under narendra Modi, has used Hindu nationalism to consolidate power by creating a sense of "us vs. them" — with Muslims often being labeled as "them." Similarly, white supremacist groups in europe and the U.S. exploit anti-Muslim sentiment to promote anti-immigrant and nationalist policies.
Refugee and Immigration Crises: In the UK and other parts of europe, the arrival of large numbers of Muslim refugees and immigrants from conflict zones has sparked fears about cultural integration, economic competition, and national identity. These fears are exploited by both far-right white supremacists and conservative political groups.
The 2024 UK Riots:
The 2024 united kingdom riots highlight how these tensions are manifesting in violent ways. These riots were driven by racism, Islamophobia, and economic frustrations, all compounded by political rhetoric that pits "native" citizens against immigrants, particularly Muslim ones. The growing anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim sentiment in the UK mirrors what's happening in india, where anti-Muslim violence is sometimes justified in the name of preserving "Hindu culture."
Hindutva and White Supremacism: An Uneasy Alliance?
While it may seem paradoxical for white supremacists to align with Hindu supremacists, their shared disdain for Muslims and immigrants has created a temporary convergence. Hindutva promotes a vision of india as a fundamentally Hindu nation, sidelining its Muslim minority. In the West, white supremacists argue for the preservation of "white" identity and culture, often at the expense of non-white immigrants and Muslims. Both ideologies seek to exclude and marginalize Muslims, despite their differences in racial views.
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