NEW YORK, NY (October 29, 2025) — Hindus for Human Rights calls on all political candidates, public officials, and media outlets to condemn Islamophobia and racism against South Asian Americans.
In the past week, Governor Andrew Cuomo mocked fellow mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani for his faith and cultural background. He implied that Mamdani could not be trusted (and possibly would celebrate) a terrorist attack in New York City. Cuomo’s campaign also posted an AI-generated video that mocked Indian and Black cultural practices and used keffiyehs as symbols of hate. The current mayor, Eric Adams, warned that New York would be overcome with “Islamic extremism” akin to what he argued has happened in European cities. Other politicians, including a Texas representative and the Vice President of the United States, have mocked Mamdani’s heritage and his experiences with Islamophobia. These politicians are teaching Americans to treat their Muslim neighbors as the other. They want Americans to judge each other by the color of their skin rather than the content of their character.
This year has been very tough for South Asian Americans. Hindu Americans have faced intense bigotry, including from elected officials, especially after Diwali. This presidential administration has constructed immigration policies that disproportionately target South Asian immigrants and trafficked in racist rhetoric against our communities. At the same time, we must acknowledge that Hindu nationalists in our community have amplified Islamophobia against Muslim politicians. They have tried to exacerbate divisions among South Asian Americans at the exact time that we must band together. These organizations and their hate will not keep any of us safe.
At Hindus for Human Rights, we have noted that Islamophobia and anti-South Asian racism have far-reaching effects on politicians across the political spectrum. Alongside other South Asian organizations, we have compiled a list of racist, Islamophobic, anti-Sikh, and anti-Hindu attacks on South Asian public figures, including the Second Lady, Mrs. Usha Vance. At a time when xenophobia, racism, and religiously-motivated bigotry are on the rise, South Asian Americans deserve leaders who will respect our civil and human rights.
