Hindus for Human Rights

Hindus for Human Rights
AbbreviationHfHR
Formation2019 (2019)
FounderSunita Viswanath, Raju Rajagopal, Deepak Gupta, Sapthagiri Iyengar, Sunil Sakhalkar, Punya Upadhyaya
Tax ID no.36-4952444
Legal status501(c)(3) non-profit
HeadquartersWashington, D.C.
Location
  • United States
Region served
United States, United Kingdom, Australia
Official language
English
Websitewww.hindusforhumanrights.org

Hindus for Human Rights (HfHR) is a U.S.-based nonprofit advocacy organization founded in 2019. The organization describes its work as rooted in Hindu commitments to pluralism, civil rights, and human rights, and it has been associated with opposition to Hindutva, advocacy for religious minorities in South Asia, anti-caste discrimination campaigns in the United States, immigrant-rights work, interfaith programming, and affiliate activity in the United Kingdom and Australia.

History

The organization was founded in the summer of 2019 in the wake of Narendra Modi's re-election as Prime Minister of India.[1] It was co-founded by Sunita Viswanath, Raju Rajagopal, Deepak Gupta, Sapthagiri Iyengar, Sunil Sakhalkar, and Punya Upadhyaya.[2][3] Advisory board members of Hindus for Human Rights include Rajmohan Gandhi, T.M. Krishna, Martin Macwan, Faisal Khan, Linda Hess, Swara Bhaskar, and Khalid Anis Ansari.[4]

Advocacy

India

Hindus for Human Rights has protested against the Howdy Modi rally in 2019[5] and the Citizenship Amendment Act.[6] HfHR has also organized press conferences and webinars in support of former and current activists and political prisoners in India including Sanjiv Bhatt,[7] Umar Khalid,[8] Anand Teltumbde,[9] Sudha Bharadwaj,[10] and the late Father Stan Swamy.[11]

In April 2022, Hindus for Human Rights compiled a statement asking Hindus around the world to break the "collective silence and speak out" against Hindutva-fuelled hate and violence against Muslims in India.[12]

United States

Hindus for Human Rights provides Know Your Rights information and resources for South Asian immigrants in the United States through in-person and virtual trainings at Hindu temples and Indian community centers.[13]

Since 2023, Hindus for Human Rights has participated in debates over caste discrimination and civil-rights law in the United States. The organization supported Seattle's proposal to add caste to the city's anti-discrimination ordinance. Seattle later became the first U.S. city to prohibit caste discrimination.[14] Hindus for Human Rights also supported California Senate Bill 403, which proposed adding caste as a protected category under California's anti-discrimination laws. Although the bill passed the state legislature, it was vetoed by Governor Gavin Newsom.[15] In 2023, Hindus for Human Rights and the Indian American Muslim Council launched the Interfaith Harmony Student Fellowship to promote Hindu-Muslim engagement on university campuses.[16]

In February 2026, Hindus for Human Rights joined a multifaith coalition to sue the Trump Administration for creating a Religious Liberty Commission that excluded non-Christian and non-Jewish participants.[17][18] Additionally, the organization's New York City chapter supported proposed anti-caste legislation.[19]

On July 27, 2026, US District Judge John Cronan dismissed the lawsuit challenging the creation of Religious Liberty Commission. In his dismissal, the judge wrote while the Federal Advisory Committee Act requires "fairly balanced in terms of the points of view represented," the law does not strictly define how that balance must be achieved. He also wrote the commission has to be "fairly balanced, not perfectly balanced" and a representative from every denomination does not have to be in it. [20]

International

Hindus for Human Rights has affiliate organizations in the UK and Australia.[21][22]

In 2024, Hindus for Human Rights UK led campaigns against the organising of Hindu nationalist groups around the UK general election and against the fact that the "Mayor of London's annual Diwali" event was organised by the VHP (UK) and other groups that promote or support Hindutva. Hindus for Human Rights UK wrote an open letter to the Mayor of London that was signed by a number of prominent South Asian diasporic organisations, party political groups, and prominent individuals.

In the United Kingdom in 2026, HfHR UK criticized the inclusion of Vishwa Hindu Parishad UK in London's City Hall-backed Diwali celebrations.[23]

References

  1. ↑ "Sunita Viswanath: India's democracy is in grave danger; state repression of minorities, dissenters at all-time high". The American Bazaar. 2021-04-08. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
  2. ↑ Rajagopal, Raju; Viswanath, Sunita. "Hindus for Human Rights | In support of the Dismantling Global Hindutva conference". www.thedp.com. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
  3. ↑ "Board of Directors". Hindus for Human Rights. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
  4. ↑ "Advisory Board". Hindus for Human Rights. Retrieved 2022-10-08.
  5. ↑ Jose, Khemta H. (2019-09-22). "'Adios Modi': Protestors Chant Outside 'Howdy Modi' Event in US". TheQuint. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
  6. ↑ Ali, Mohammad. "Thousands protest in US cities against India citizenship law". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
  7. ↑ "Indian American organizations urge Supreme Court to give bail to Sanjiv Bhatt". Hindustan Times. 2021-01-19. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
  8. ↑ Abubacker, Afra (2021-11-18). "In India, Muslim UAPA prisoners persecuted for their faith: Families tell US congressional briefing". Maktoob media. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
  9. ↑ "Statement by Hindus for Human Rights and Global Indian Progressive Alliance Protesting the Arrest of Dr. Anand Teltumbde and Gautam Navlakha". Hindus for Human Rights. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
  10. ↑ Fatima, Nikhat (2021-12-10). "IAMC, HfHR welcome release of Sudha Bharadwaj". TwoCircles.net. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
  11. ↑ "A Prayer for Father Stan Swamy". Hindus for Human Rights. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
  12. ↑ "Time to 'Break Collective Silence and Speak out Against Hate', Say Hindu Orgs, Leaders". The Wire.
  13. ↑ "Know Your Rights Resources".
  14. ↑ "Seattle becomes first U.S. city to ban caste discrimination". Associated Press. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  15. ↑ "California governor vetoes caste discrimination bill". Associated Press. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  16. ↑ "Interfaith Harmony Student Fellowship". Interfaith America. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  17. ↑ "On the Eve of Litigation Deadline, So-Called "Religious Liberty Commission" Publishes Documents Previously Hidden from Public".
  18. ↑ "Trump's Religious Liberty Commission sued by interfaith coalition". The Christian Post. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  19. ↑ "Queens advocacy groups push for NYC's first anti-caste bill". Queens Ledger. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  20. ↑ Schonfeld, Zach (2026-07-27). "Religious Liberty Commission lawsuit dismissed by federal judge". The Hill. Retrieved 2026-07-31.
  21. ↑ "HfHR UK". Hindus for Human Rights. 2026-05-06. Retrieved 2026-05-08.
  22. ↑ "HfHR Australia". Hindus for Human Rights. 2026-05-06. Retrieved 2026-05-08.
  23. ↑ "Mayor rejects calls to remove VHP-UK from Diwali celebrations". The Standard. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
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