Hindu Council of Australia faces Islamophobia complaint at rights body
Alliance against Islamophobia says social media posts say Muslims are ‘inherently criminal, dangerous, violent or evil by nature’
CANBERRA, Australia (MNTV) – The Australian Human Rights Commission is investigating a complaint filed against the Hindu Council of Australia for alleged repeated instances of Islamophobia, reports Guardian Australia.
The complaint alleges that the council, its president Sai Paravastu and head of media Neelima Paravastu, made Islamophobic posts on X and Instagram, and comments in public, between May 2024 and July 2025.
The Alliance against Islamophobia complaint contains copies of the social media posts.
Posts referenced in the complaint specifically impugned Indian, Bangladeshi and Rohingya Muslims, it is alleged.
The imputations from several of the posts, the complaint alleges, were that Muslims were “inherently criminal, dangerous, violent or evil by nature”, and “homogeneously pose a powerful threat or menace”.
The commission cannot comment on complaints it is investigating, but it is believed to have accepted the matter on 16 September.
The alliance’s complaint seeks a formal public apology, the immediate removal of the offending material from all platforms, an enforceable undertaking to cease further vilifying conduct and compensation “for the harm and distress caused”.
Most of the complaint focuses on posts said to impugn Muslims with south Asian backgrounds, and includes several posts in Hindi.
It also included copies of several news articles which referenced comments Sai Paravastu allegedly made calling for the removal of Muslim prayer rooms in schools.
The complaint alleges contraventions of section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act, and unlawful discrimination within the meaning of the Australian Human Rights Commission Act.
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