Thread by @CoHNAOfficial

#HinduVoicesMatter. THREAD on the #Hypocrisy of "freedom of expression" when applied to Hinduism, given the recent #KaaliPosterControversy. Let's see how other communities have objected to appropriations and disparaging of their religions without being gaslighted or gagged. 1/n

In 2018, a Sikh filmmaker withdrew a film on Guru Nanak ji after several Sikh bodies protested against the depiction of the founder of Sikhism in the film. No one gaslighted the Sikh community or gagged their voices. 2/n business-standard.com/article/pti-st…

In 2013, a Los Angeles bar was forced to remove pictures of Sikh Gurus after protests from the community. The management agreed to hand the pictures over to more respectful displays at a local Gurudwara. No "South Asian Scholar" or artist cried foul. 3/n indiatoday.in/featured/story…

In 2020, after 87 yrs, the NFL team f.k.a Washington Redskins changed their name to Washington Commanders after years of protests by indigenous groups. No one gaslighted these groups or cried "freedom of expression" but respected their concerns. 4/n abcnews.go.com/US/washington-…

Here is a video of how black and indigenous leaders banded together in Minnesota and pushed for the name change. Their concerns and rights were respected. They were not called "trolls" or other names. 5/n

2021 - indigenous groups called for a name change of Kansas City Chiefs. "The use of Native American imagery such as the arrowhead, the drum and the tomahawk chop does not honor Native American culture...Rather, they stereotype and misappropriate it." 6/n kansascitymag.com/news/native-am…

In 2020, @rihanna apologized for using an Islamic verse at the Fenty lingerie fashion show, saying that it was a "honest, yet careless mistake." (NOTE: She never apologized for sporting a Ganesha on her necklace or considered it a "careless mistake"). 7/n bbc.com/news/newsbeat-…

Hinduism deserves the same basic respect as other religions. Nothing more, nothing less. So, when artists, academics, "South Asian Scholars" decide to misappropriate, eroticize, disparage sacred art under freedom of expression,...8/n

...Hindus have an equal right to express their concerns without being shamed, gagged or gaslighted. 9/n #HinduVoicesMatter