Conflicts in Leicester over local majority ownership against Hindus? The commission of inquiry digs deep,

A 900-year-old city in the East Midlands of England, Leicester was until recently a symbol of diversity and togetherness. This exemplary city of cohesion witnessed violence between Hindu and Muslim groups in August and September 2022 after a cricket match between India and Pakistan. As disinformation poured in from every corner of social media, mass struggles erupted.

After the investigation, the panel concludes: "The Hindu community has been attacked with false narratives, disinformation and false accusations in order to persecute them, which has led to violence." The report complements its findings with an examination of the social dissolution of the city ​​and the places where the fighting took place.

On 28 August 2022, India and Pakistan played an Asian Cup cricket match. The match was won by India, after which a fight broke out at Melton Road. Vandals took to the streets, Hindu temples were desecrated and parishioners were physically assaulted.

Tensions continued to mount and attempts were made to demolish another Hindu temple in the city of Birmingham, an hour's drive from Leicester.

Now, a report by the fact-finding committee by Rashmi Samant and Chris Blackburn seeks to examine what led to the violence and examines the social dynamics in the region that have made such violence between two predominantly South Asian groups far from their homeland possible.

Rashmi Samant is the former President-elect of the Oxford Union, while Chris Blackburn identifies as a British political scientist writing on international politics and security. The 2022 Leicester Violence Inquiry Report, entitled 'The Rise of Territorial Majoritarianism and Hinduphobia', finds that ethnic enclaves have developed among Leicester's migrant population due to translational externalities from the political and 'South Asian' (religiously organised). Effect.

According to the exploratory report, during the violence that shook Leicester City: -

1. Attempted to defame and denigrate the Hindu community when extremists used malicious propaganda to spread false information about the fake kidnapping of a Muslim minor, the false stabbing of a Muslim traffic cop, false report of attack on mosque and false accusation of Koran desecration.

2ndIncreased abuse of law enforcement and security measures and misappropriation of public property through false reporting of Hindu community activities to police and local media.

3. Attempt to attack and denigrate the largest Native American population in Britain. There have been failed attempts to mobilize against the Hindu community nationwide using extrapolated versions of disinformation about the Hindu community in Leicester. The attempt succeeded only in Birmingham and was unsuccessful.

4. Institutional induphobia and distorted media coverage.

The incident, which was seen as the starting point for unrest in Hindu-Muslim communities, shocked and drew international attention. With a population of 368,600, the city is the largest settlement in the East Midlands. Its diverse population reflects its rich cultural history as the place has provided sanctuary to large numbers of migrants and refugees. According to a 2008 report, Leicester residents speak more than 70 languages ​​and dialects. with more than 240 religious groups from 14 different religions and belief systems.

The report concluded: "The epicenter of rioting and rioting in Leicester was in East Leicester, which became predominantly Muslim due to the formation of ethnic enclaves in the city. The neighborhood showed signs of territoriality majority in the days leading up to the riots, and these sentiments continued throughout the incident. The origins of this phenomenon can be traced to "transnational political externalities" and the "side effect" of migration from

territories in the East , where there is majority aggression against the Hindu community, such as Bangladesh and Pakistan. Threats against the Hindu community have been found to induce a sense of territorial ethnic cleansing, achieved to a degree when Hindu families, fearing for their safety and well-being, have temporarily abandoned their homes during weeks of targeted attacks.

He says: "The Leicester riots were an open plot to vilify this exemplary community by unfounded troops of 'Hindu nationalist extremism' inspired by growing Hindu tendencies around the world.

The exploratory report describes ways to avoid induphobia disinformation on social media platforms through a positive approach and promoting media literacy

2. Tackling biased media coverage by hiring accountable media, supporting independent media, enforcing regulations and promoting transparency

3To reduce majority sentiment and transnational political externalities, civil society participation and education should be encouraged.

4. To curb the growing phobia of Hindus and to protect vulnerable micro-minorities, laws should be developed and enforced to combat hate speech and discrimination against Hindus.

5. Government agencies and law enforcement agencies should adopt additional definitions of induphobia to help the community easily understand and deal with the resulting tensions.