The state of Georgia in the United States has passed a historic bill to include anti-Hindu discrimination in their penal code, making it the first state in the country to take such action. The bill, supported by both Republican and Democratic senators, aims to address and end “Hinduphobia” in the state. The legislation, known as SB 375, updates the penal code to recognize anti-Hindu prejudice and allows for law enforcement to take appropriate action against such discrimination. The Hindus of Georgia political action committee (PAC) also supported the bill.
According to the 2023–24 Pew Research Center Religious Landscape Study, Hindus make up approximately 0.9% of the US population, about 2.5 million people. The bill is a significant step towards protecting the rights of the Hindu community in Georgia. However, Hindu-American organizations have opposed a similar bill, SB 509, proposed in California due to concerns that the vague language of the bill could potentially be used to target Hindus. This bill aims to implement a training program for law enforcement to identify and respond to “transnational repression,” actions by foreign governments targeting individuals or communities in exile through surveillance, threats, and harassment.
Overall, the passing of the bill in Georgia marks a positive step towards ending discrimination against Hindus in the United States. Hindu-American organizations continue to advocate for clarity in legislation to ensure the protection of their community against unfair targeting and discrimination.
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