What is Hinduphobia? Why Georgia introduced bill against it

Georgia has introduced a bill to formally recognize Hinduphobia and anti-Hindu intolerance. If signed into law, the bill would change Georgia’s penal code to expressly define Hinduphobia and direct law enforcement authorities to take proper action in hate crimes against Hindus in the United States.

What is Hinduphobia?
Hinduphobia, often known as anti-Hindu sentiment, refers to unpleasant attitudes, feelings, or acts directed at Hinduism or its practitioners. This can take many forms, including prejudice, discrimination, and hate speech. It is a phrase used to describe fear, prejudice, or hate of Hinduism and its adherents, which is often motivated by historical or cultural considerations.

Bill Details:
Republican Senators Shawn Still and Clint Dixon, as well as Democratic Senators Jason Esteves and Emanuel D Jones, have all supported the legislation.

Senate Bill 375 proposes adding a new provision to the Georgia code that defines “Hinduphobia” as a “complex of aggressive, harmful, and disparaging attitudes and behaviors toward Hinduism. It would require state and municipal law enforcement agencies to consider Hinduphobia when enforcing existing anti-discrimination statutes.

“Georgia becomes the first state to introduce such a bill, and if passed, will make history once again,” said the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) in a statement. “We are proud to work closely with Senator Shawn Still on this important bill and thank him, along with Senator Emanuel Jones, Senator Jason Esteves, and Senator Clint Dixon for supporting the needs of the Hindu community in Georgia and the United States.”

Take a Look At The Tweet:

IMPORTANT UPDATE: The State of Georgia has introduced SB 375, which formally updates the state's penal code to recognize Hinduphobia and anti-Hindu prejudice, and enables law enforcement and other agencies to consider Hinduphobia while cataloging such discrimination and taking… pic.twitter.com/0TKGgtGb8x

— CoHNA (Coalition of Hindus of North America) (@CoHNAOfficial) April 10, 2025

Also Read: Tamil Nadu Gets New BJP Chief: Who is Nainar Nagendran?

Georgia’s Take on Hinduism:
This move builds on Georgia’s April 2023 resolution condemning Hinduphobia and anti-Hindu intolerance. That resolution also recognized Hinduism as one of the world’s oldest religions, with more than 1.2 billion followers in over 100 nations.

The resolution was introduced by Republican Representatives Lauren McDonald and Todd Jones, who represent Forsyth County, which is home to one of Georgia’s major Hindu and Indian-American communities. The resolution, which was largely supported by Hindu advocacy groups and religious leaders, sought to both recognize Hindu contributions to American society and condemn episodes of hate speech and violence against Hindus.