logo
Why is multicultural New Zealand seeing a hate campaign against Hindus?

Why is multicultural New Zealand seeing a hate campaign against Hindus?

Time of India6 hours ago

Why is multicultural New Zealand seeing a hate campaign against Hindus?
Team TOI Plus
TIMESOFINDIA.COM
Jun 25, 2025, 18:10 IST IST
Conservative Christian leader Brian Tamaki and his followers torched flags of different religious faiths and called for stricter immigration policy, drawing condemnation from the govt and ethnic communities
Ethnic communities in New Zealand have called for unity, social harmony and respect for all religious beliefs after flags representing Hindus, Sikhs and other faiths were desecrated by followers of conservative Christian leader Brian Tamaki in Auckland on June 21.
Hundreds of protesters took out a march on Queen Street in support of what they called 'Christian values, Kiwi identity and the future of this nation', Radio New Zealand reported.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

'Acquired tools to... seize power': Armenia arrests archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan over alleged coup plot
'Acquired tools to... seize power': Armenia arrests archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan over alleged coup plot

First Post

timean hour ago

  • First Post

'Acquired tools to... seize power': Armenia arrests archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan over alleged coup plot

In a statement, Armenia's Investigative Committee said it had filed criminal charges against Galstanyan and 15 others whom they said had 'acquired the means and tools necessary to commit a terrorist attack and seize power' read more Archbishop of the Armenian Apostolic Church Bagrat Galstanyan, who is charged with attempting to overthrow the government and destabilizing the state, waves to supporters as Armenia's National Security officers arrive to arrest him in Yerevan, Armenia, on Wednesday. Reuters Armenian authorities on Wednesday arrested a prominent Christian cleric, Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, along with 13 other people and charged them with orchestrating a plot to overthrow the government. In a statement, Armenia's Investigative Committee said it had filed criminal charges against Galstanyan and 15 others whom they said had 'acquired the means and tools necessary to commit a terrorist attack and seize power'. A total of 14 individuals have been arrested, investigators said, without naming the people. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan wrote on his Telegram channel that the authorities had thwarted a 'large and sinister plan by the 'criminal-oligarchic clergy'' to take power in Armenia, a former Soviet republic in the South Caucasus. Galstanyan's arrest is part of a growing confrontation between Pashinyan and the powerful Armenian Apostolic Church, who have traded increasingly bitter allegations in recent weeks ahead of elections scheduled for next year. Some senior clerics have previously called for Pashinyan to step down over Armenia's military defeats against Azerbaijan. Last week, Russian-Armenian billionaire Samvel Karapetyan was detained on accusations of making public calls to usurp power after he accused the government of waging a campaign against the church and said he would act 'in his own way' to stop it, according to state agency Armenpress. Lawyers for Karapetyan say the businessman denies wrongdoing. A lawyer for Galstanyan, Sergei Arutyunyan, told journalists on Wednesday that his client was being unfairly criminalised by the government, which he said was seeking to 'create a smokescreen and simulate that they've caught a terrorist group.' Pashinyan rose to power on a wave of street protests in 2018, but came under heavy domestic pressure after major losses to Azerbaijan in a brief war in 2020. In 2023, Azerbaijan retook the whole of the mountain enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh, where ethnic Armenians had enjoyed de facto independence for decades. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Tapping into popular anger over defeats and territorial concessions, Galstanyan and his supporters led days of street protests last summer to demand the removal of Pashinyan. Detailing the charges that he faces now, authorities alleged that Galstanyan and associates had recruited over 1,000 people, mainly former soldiers and police officers, to block roads, paralyse traffic, incite violence and shut off the internet, with the goal of destabilising the government and seizing power. The Investigative Committee published audio recordings purporting to show Galstanyan and others discussing plans for the alleged coup attempt, as well as a photograph showing firearms and other weapons they said were discovered during searches. Pashinyan, who faces parliamentary elections in June 2026, has moved towards signing a peace treaty with Azerbaijan, although tensions between the two countries remain high and the number of reported ceasefire violations has surged this year.

In Bangladesh, Dispute Over 10 Taka Gets Father-Son Duo Trapped In Blasphemy Tangle, Jailed
In Bangladesh, Dispute Over 10 Taka Gets Father-Son Duo Trapped In Blasphemy Tangle, Jailed

News18

time2 hours ago

  • News18

In Bangladesh, Dispute Over 10 Taka Gets Father-Son Duo Trapped In Blasphemy Tangle, Jailed

The blasphemy charge arose out of a petty financial dispute after a self-declared Imam of a local mosque refused to pay the barber duo for their services On Sunday, a new row erupted in Bangladesh when 69-year-old Paresh Chandra Shil and 35-year-old Bishnu Chandra Shil—a father-son barber duo—were dragged from their salon in Lalmonirhat district, 325 kilometers from capital Dhaka, and thrashed publicly on allegations of showing disrespect to the Prophet. But the Sils, both of whom are now behind bars, have a different tale to tell. According to them, at the heart of the accusation is a dispute over 10 taka (currency in Bangladesh). Diptirani Roy, Bishnu's wife, said: 'When my sister-in-law came, she insisted that we must go and find out the truth behind the incident. We went to jail and asked them what really happened. How did it spiral out of control? Both my husband and my father-in-law told me it is because of 10 taka. They asked the complainant for payment for their service but he refused to pay up. An argument ensued and while leaving their shop, the man threatened my father-in-law with dire consequences. My father-in-law and my husband are innocent." News18 spoke to local sources in Bangladesh who backed Roy's claim. Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minorities too confirmed Roy's allegation that the blasphemy charge is due to a petty financial dispute. The organisation has also confirmed the customer's name to be Md Abdul Ajiz, a self-declared Imam of a local mosque. A viral video is evidence enough to suggest how even a 69-year-old wasn't spared by the mob. Bangladesh-based rights organisations like Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), Naripokkho, and Shujan (Citizens for Good Governance) have expressed deep concern over the incident and issued a statement warning of 'mob culture" in the country. After Bangladesh's former prime minister Sheikh Hasina fled to India on August 5, 2024, there were reports of large-scale violence against minorities, resulting in even deaths. Hindus, who make up about 8 per cent of Bangladesh's population of 170 million, bore the maximum brunt of it and many would argue they continue to do so in the form of legal harassment like the Sils are facing. The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council estimates that communal violence has affected at least 52 of the country's 64 districts since August 5. The targeted attacks made even Prime Minister Narendra Modi appeal for 'safety and protection" of Hindus as well as other minorities in Bangladesh last year. The attacks also caught the attention of the office of the United Nations Secretary-General who called for the violence in the country to be 'tamped down" and condemned any 'racially based attacks" last year.

In 2026 assembly polls, BJP will get less than 50 seats in West Bengal: Abhishek Banerjee in a scathing attack on BJP in Satgachia
In 2026 assembly polls, BJP will get less than 50 seats in West Bengal: Abhishek Banerjee in a scathing attack on BJP in Satgachia

Time of India

time2 hours ago

  • Time of India

In 2026 assembly polls, BJP will get less than 50 seats in West Bengal: Abhishek Banerjee in a scathing attack on BJP in Satgachia

Trinamool National General Secretary & MP Abhishek Banerjee said on Wednesday that BJP will get below 50 seats in the coming Bengal assembly polls in 2026 'I promise that in 2026, total number of seats won by BJP will be under 50. In 2021, BJP's count stopped at 77. I had said that Trinamool's seats would increase in 2024, and it turned to be true…. BJP's talkative president Sukanta Majumdar won by 9000 votes. He even dared to organise people against me. If he does politics for 50 years and contests 10 elections, even then his margin wouldn't come near 7.1 lakh, which I got in Diamond Harbour,' Banerjee claimed while speaking in Satgachi today, which is part of his Constituency. Banerjee , attacking BJP Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari , said, 'Suvendu Adhikari claimed that Mamata Banerjee would become a grandmother from Didi if he weren't there. He left the party in 2020. After that, how did Mamata Banerjee win in 2021, 2023 panchayat polls? After he joined BJP, the party did not win a single election. BJP lost in all the 11 bypolls in Bengal. They even said that they would conduct Operation Bengal here, which means they will buy MLAs.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Don't Miss The Top Packaging Trends Of 2024, Enhnace Your Brand With The Latest Insights Packaging Machines | Search Ads Search Now 'West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has become the CM on her own strength, after ousting the 34-year-long CPI(M) government with the people's blessings. He might become a grandfather, but will never be able to remove Trinamool from people's hearts in the next 50 years,' Abhishek said. Banerjee came down heavily on BJP's attack on Jagannath Temple. 'Those who claim to protect Hindus are mocking the Jagannath Temple. Suvendu Adhikari mocks it. Sukanta Majumdar called it an amusement park. This is what BJP leaders said. I am thankful to Mamata Banerjee and the State Government for the Jagannath Temple, else people would not see BJP's true face,' Banerjee said. Live Events Talking about the Pahalgam attack, the Trinamool Secretary said, 'The Pahalgam attack occurred on April 22 this year and 26 people were killed by four terrorists who crossed the border with AK-47s and shot them in broad daylight. They escaped, and the Central Government has no clue where they went. Who is responsible for border security and the IB, CRPF, CISF? If you demanded Mamata Banerjee's resignation over RG Kar, why shouldn't we demand Amit Shah's resignation for Pahalgam?' A book 'Nishobdo Biplab' silent Revolution launched 'After being elected as an MP for the first time in 2014, I held the first Nishobdo Biplab book launch event in Amtala in 2015. The book published today will be distributed to all. It consists of 695 pages. When it was first published, it had only 50-60 pages. Later, after being elected as an MP, the work I was able to do has been detailed in this book. It only has details of my work as MP fund of Rs 5 crore. Detailed accounts regarding the same are provided in the book. Apart from this, it also includes details of the works undertaken with the help of various departments of the Maa-Mati-Manush government led by CM Mamata Banerjee,' Abhishek said. et

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store