Anti-Hindu behavior is on the rise in the UK, says Peter Baum

Peter Baum, Contributing Editor to BLiTZ has worked for four decades in the International Financial Markets specializing in the Capital Market. He held directorships at large International Financial Institutions and ended career as consultant to an Investment Management company. Baum is a member of the Institute of Directors. Baum has worked extensively abroad in the Asia, Africa, the USA and Europe and after retirement spends his time as a political researcher, activists and columnist.

In addition to writing for Blitz, Peter Baum has also been writing for Gatestone Institute, Conservative Woman and Decisive Liberty and has appeared numerous times on TV and radio mainly talking about Israel and the Middle East.

He has interviewed the Green Prince – the son of Hamas leader and was also on the Board of Deputies for British Jewry and Chairman of Southend Friends of Israel.

Peter Baum has an extensive presence on social media, including Facebook.

Recently he has accorded an exclusive interview to BLiTZ discussing a wide range of issues, including alarming rise of Hinduphobia in the world, including the Western nations. Here is the excerpts:

Shoaib Choudhury: Recently, Ukrainian ambassador to Germany, Andrej Melnyk in a radio interview has lavished praise on a Nazi collaborator whose followers were responsible for the murder of 800,000 Ukrainian Jews as well as tens of thousands of Poles during the Holocaust.

Earlier, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has blamed Israel for not doing enough for Ukraine and has spewed anti-Semitic venom.

Considering the above-mentioned two incidents, what is your opinion and do you believe, Ukrainian leaders and officials are free from Nazi influence?

Peter Baum: History is sometimes unpalatable for those commentating on the Russian incursion into Ukraine. History teaches us that the Ukrainians were willing participants in assisting Hitler’s efforts in exterminating Ukraine’s Jewish population in WW2 and in trying to defeat Stalin’s Russia.

These historical facts have always impacted post war relations between Ukraine and Russia and normalizing relations has not been on the agenda.

Clearly there is still antisemitism within the Ukraine despite the media reflecting Zelensky’s Jewish roots which is less than a half truth. He had a Jewish father but never followed Judaism having his children baptized.

Moreover, Ukraine’s voting record in the UN is one of hostility to the Jewish State of Israel having voted against Israel 17 times and abstaining 6 times in anti-Israel resolutions. Ukraine as a country and as people have still much to do to rid themselves of Jew hatred.

Shoaib Choudhury: Recently, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has signaled of resigning from the post amid inflation, skyrocketing price of essentials and influx in illegal migrants. In your opinion, how these issues can be checked by the next prime minister?

Peter Baum: Price rises are not unique to the United Kingdom as reflected in global economies. Only Government financial assistance in say, reducing tax on petrol will permit another Prime Minister to control price inflation whilst simultaneously being disadvantageous to the Government’s revenue.

The influx in illegal immigration has been allowed to continue despite attempts to slow and halt such immigration. Only with assistance from other EU countries will decrease the number of illegal migrants and unfortunately this does not seem to be happening. The EU are behaving in an uncaring manner and in fact are only too content that the UK is the recipient of illegal migrants.

Shoaib Choudhury: Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer said that Johnson was “always unfit for office”, while others said: “Boris Johnson has been a disaster for Britain. He was always unsuitable. He had the wrong temperament, the wrong relationship with the truth, an excess of self-interest, a complete disregard for other people and an inability to build consensus. It was clear from the start that his time in power would end quickly and in catastrophe. And now has is responsible for the messiest and most damaging departure from office by a British Prime Minister”.

What is your opinion?

Peter Baum: Boris Johnson delivered an 80-seat majority to the Tory Party at the last election. His downfall has been continuously promoted by the media and his opposition within the Tory Party. His mistakes domestically when compared to his victories internationally were insufficient for those MP’s within the Tory Party.

I would have preferred he remained PM and wait in anticipation of the next leader. If I had my way, I would choose Robert Halfon but I do not think he will put his name forward which is a real shame.

Shoaib Choudhury: Some of Boris Johnson’s critics said, he is “politically illiterate, dangerous nonsense”, stating “it should not be surprising that Johnson has corrupted Britain’s constitutional norms and bent them out of shape with his willingness to do and say anything to retain power. He has failed to tell the truth so regularly that new revelations pass almost without comment”.

What is your opinion?

Peter Baum: When you compare his actions and, or statements with the actions and statements of the last Labour Government headed by Tony Blair and latterly Gordon Brown, we in the UK illegally went to war with Iraq. Now my own opinion on the war in Iraq is that I was content with that effort but in terms of Johnson’ s statements and actions and Blair’s the comparisons are absurd. I believe Johnson has been overly criticized but the weight of criticism has brought him down.

Shoaib Choudhury: Political analysts said, “Boris Johnson’s successor is likely to be even worse than he is”.

What is your opinion?

Peter Baum: Of course, this is possible but the question posed can only be answered during the tenure of whoever the new leader is. May I answer the same question in one year from now?

Shoaib Choudhury: In Iran, Fa’ezeh Hashemi Rafsanjani, an Iranian politician, ex-lawmaker and daughter of former president of Iran has been indicted after insulting the Prophet of Islam as well as accusations of propaganda activities against the country’s Islamic establishment.

Recently, Fa’ezeh Hashemi angered many in Iran by making disrespectful comments against Prophet Muhammad, who she claimed had “wasted” the rich assets of his wife Khadijah.

Days earlier, she had also hit out at the activities of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), an official division of the country’s Armed Forces, and said the elite military force should remain on the US sanctions list.

Please note, US president Joe Biden is planning to remove Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) from sanction list.

What is your opinion on these matters?

Peter Baum: Internal dissent is growing and although the authorities are, as ever attempting to clamp down on such political dissent, the growing economic problems within Iran are encouraging both internal and external opposition groups.

Biden would be making a huge mistake if he removed the IRGC from sanctions and there is still time for him to reverse this planned action.

Moreover, internal challenges to the current regime within Iran are occurring virtually on a daily basis and for the first time in decades the pressure for change may be uncontrollable by the authorities. Any pro regime assistance that Biden gives to Iran will certainly be met with hostility by internal anti-Government participants. The IRGC are assisting Syrian and Russian efforts in Syria’s civil war and Turkey, as a member of NATO helping anti Assad forces in Syria will also pressure the Biden administration to defer this policy. Naturally, Israel and her allies will act similarly.

Shoaib Choudhury: Rashmi Samant, an Indian Hindu rights activist and the first female Indian president-elect of Oxford University’s Student’s Union was attacked and cyberbullied by religious bigots and propagandists. At the same time, religious bigots, including Islamists and jihadists falsely propagated stating Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had funded the student council election.

Later Rashmi Samant’s lawyer Adithya Srinivasan said that the Oxford University has concluded its investigation into the case and confirmed that she was indeed a victim of bullying and vilification. He further said that unfortunately Indian students and citizens are seen as easy targets to take rough shots at because of their good behavior and contribution to the societies.

Following the controversy, Indians from across the world demanded the dismissal of the Hinduphobic faculty member and the matter was also raised by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in the Upper House of Parliament.

Under the aforementioned circumstances, do you think, Hinduphobia is on rise in Britain?

Peter Baum: There is no doubt that anti-Hindu behavior like antisemitism is on the rise in the UK. However, there is a difference in that the anti-Hindu element, in the vast, vast majority of instances emanates from one main source – Islam. This has undoubtedly brought the Hindu and Jewish communities even closer together to challenge the growth of fundamentalist Islam which our authorities and media are very reluctant to effectively oppose.

Shoaib Choudhury: A film titled ‘Kaali’ by Canadian filmmaker Leena Manimekalai has been criticized for being Hinduphobic and disparaging goddess Kaali. In the poster of this film, goddess Kaali is seen smoking and holding an LGBT flag.

Following the reaction on social media, Canada-based Leena Manimekalai said, “The film revolves around the events that take place one evening, when Kali appears and strolls the streets of Toronto. If you see the picture, don’t put the hashtag ‘arrest Leena manimekalai’ and put the hashtag ‘love you Leena manimekalai’”.

She further said, “I have nothing to lose. I want to be with a voice that speaks without fear of anything until it is. If the price is my life, I will give it”.

Does it mean, Leena Manimekalai has on purpose made this notorious attempt of disparaging goddess Kaali and hurting religious sentiments of Hindus? Do you see it as a part of recent trend of Hinduphobia in the West?

Peter Baum: There is undoubtedly a rise in anti-Indian behavior in the western media in my opinion driven by two political and one cultural issue.

In the former India’s relationship with Israel and now more recently with Russia on both diplomatic and commercial elements has angered not only the anti-Israel mob but also those in the west who are imposing sanctions on Russia. However, this is an excuse for the Islamic political hordes who say nothing on Russian support for the butcher in Syria, Assad.

It is also noticeable that the west has been reluctant to expose the atrocities committed by Islamists on indigenous black Africans in the Sahel and black Christians in central and Northern Africa. Hinduphobia should be effectively challenged and my intuition is that such challenge should originate from an interfaith group of Hindus, Sikhs, Christians and Jews.

Shoaib Choudhury: Recently, Rashmi Samant fell victim of bullying and threats from an Interpol wanted convicted terror-funder and his cohort who are currently living in Britain, for the “crime” of defending Hindu rights activists Kushal Baran Chakraborty. Those individuals named Shahid Uddin Khan in on Interpol’s wanted list as a convicted terror-funder and Zulkarnain Saer Khan Sami is a proven pro-jihadist and anti-Semite with notorious criminal past. Considering these incidents, do you think, Britain is gradually slipping into the grips of radical Muslims, jihadists and terrorists?

Peter Baum: This is an interesting point and there is no yes or no answer but there is for the first time in my lifetime a grassroots challenge not only by certain aspects of the media but also by ordinary folk and let me elaborate on this.

For over a decade, Muslim man of Pakistani origin have been committing the vilest sexual offences against underage white girls from working class backgrounds. These events have been now well documented despite an agenda of not reporting these atrocities by mainstream media nor the police nor MP’s. Thanks to two relatively new mainstream media channels, GBNews and TalkTV these issues have been thoroughly exposed and one can witness the recent exposure and challenge. Had it not been for the efforts of these channels and the victims coming forward to these channels the fundamentalist Islamic community would literally have ‘ gotten away with murder.’

As long as those impacted by radical, Islamic behavior manage to liaise with those media outlets, enough pressure will be imposed on Members of Parliament and the authorities to ensure the cancer of radical Islam is controlled if not completely eradicated.

With regards to the specific individuals [Interpol wanted terror-funder Shahid Uddin Khan and Zulkarnain Saer Khan Sami] you mention, we understand that the authorities are fully aware so let’s wait to establish what action, if any is taken.