An Indian citizen residing in the United States, Bhoshan Athale, has been charged with hate speech against Sikhs. The charges stem from a complaint filed in September 2022, alleging that Athale made threatening phone calls to a Sikh NGO.
According to the complaint, Athale left seven voice messages threatening to harm and kill Sikh employees with a razor. In March, he reportedly sent two more voice messages containing hate speech against Sikhs and Muslims.
If convicted, Athale could face up to 15 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for threatening to use a weapon and harassing religious communities.
This incident occurs against a backdrop of broader concerns about anti-Sikh sentiment. In India, the Sikh community has historically faced threats and extremism, resulting in numerous deaths and displacements.
Internationally, there have been reports of violence against Sikh leaders, including alleged attacks on Hardeep Singh Nijjar and Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. These events have led to investigations into Indian officials and RAW agents in the US and Canada.
The global Sikh community has expressed feelings of insecurity due to these developments. International authorities continue to investigate claims of targeted actions against Sikhs.
