Toronto: Following a rash of anti-Semitic incidents in Canada after the phobia assaults by Hamas on Israel on October 7, Canadian authorities have moved towards use of the Nazi “swastika” image, which has additionally been condemned by leaders like Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. To forestall it from being conflated with the Hindu sacred image, an Indo-Canadian neighborhood organisation has launched a marketing campaign to “Reclaim Swastika”.

Anti-Semitic incidents have seen the Nazi image seem when Jewish synagogues, faculties, neighborhood centres and even companies have been focused. On November 5, throughout a protest rally in Ottawa, that image was displayed, drawing a response from Trudeau, who posted on X, “The display of a swastika by an individual on Parliament Hill is unacceptable.”

The Toronto Police Services web site additionally described the swastika as a “hate symbol” and warns its use may end in legal prices.

This has led to concern throughout the Indo-Canadian neighborhood, with the organisation, Canadian Organization For Hindu Heritage Education (CoHHE), launching its “Reclaim Swastika Campaign”. In a letter to Toronto Police and different regulation enforcement authorities, it identified Swastika phrase in Sanskrit means auspiciousness and well-being of all” and the “Swastika symbol is very sacred and used extensively during worshipping rituals in our temples, homes and businesses”.

CoHHE board member Ruchi Wali stated, “Swastika is not a hate symbol, it’s an ancient and sacred symbol used by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists. Nazis never used Swastika and they used hooked/ tilted cross or Hakenkreuz. Swastika is wrongly associated with the Nazi symbol. It’s deeply Hinduphobic to call Swastika a hate symbol, when it’s a symbol for peace and prosperity.”

That viewpoint has additionally gained help from Jewish teams. In an announcement, Richard Marceau, vice-president, External Affairs & General Counsel, Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), stated, “The Nazi version of the swastika has reared its ugly head at many hate rallies across the country in recent weeks. In this context it is indisputably the ultimate antisemitic emblem. However, we also recognise that the swastika is a holy symbol for Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and Zoroastrians.”

“Context is everything. It is essential to ensure that the ancient and rich heritage of the Hindu symbol not only be respected but honoured, while also addressing the Nazi misappropriation of the symbol that has twisted and weaponised it into one of racism and hate,” he added. CIJA makes use of the time period Nazi to qualify the time period swastika in posts and statements.

“Finally, we are in close touch with the Hindu community about this issue, and many others. Only through dialogue will we understand each other better,” Marceau stated.

Other Indo-Canadian organisations have expressed concern over the way in which the time period has been attacked by Canadian politicians. The National Alliance of Indo-Canadians has taken exception to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s assertion that public show of ‘Swastika’ is “unacceptable”, the organisation’s chair Dr Azad Kaushik stated.

Dr Kaushik stated, “By criminalising Swastika as a symbol of mischief and hate, religious sensitivities of Hindus, Jains and Buddhists are hurt, further marginalising these Indo-Canadian communities and making them a target of hate and discrimination.”