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Advocacy groups urge ban on Nazi symbols in Canada
CoHNA Canada and B’nai Brith Canada are advocating to ban Nazi symbols and correct the misidentification of the Hakenkreuz as Swastika.
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Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) Canada has announced a partnership with B’nai Brith Canada, the country’s oldest human rights organization, to advocate for action against the rising display of Nazi symbols.
According to a statement, the initiative seeks to correct the ‘misidentification’ of the Nazi emblem by promoting the use of the accurate term—Hakenkreuz rather than the commonly misapplied Swastika.
Richard Robertson, director of Research and Advocacy at B’nai Brith Canada, talked about the need for precise terminology to prevent the continued conflation of the sacred Swastika, a symbol of peace in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, with the Nazi insignia.
“These faiths’ sacred symbol has been wrongfully associated with the Nazi Reich,” Robertson said. “We must not allow the continued conflation of this symbol of peace with an icon of hate. It is a historical injustice that the meaning of the Swastika has been wrongfully maligned by reference to the Nazis. With our petition, B’nai Brith Canada aims not only to protect vulnerable communities from hate, but also to help the public differentiate between the sacred Swastika and vile Nazi iconography.”
CoHNA Canada welcomed this initiative, which, according to the statement aligns with its Swastika Education and Awareness Campaign, launched in 2020 to clarify the distinction between the Swastika and the Hakenkreuz. “This is how advocacy works,” CoHNA stated. “We look forward to continuing to grow our partnership with B’nai Brith to combat the growing hate and promote understanding and mutual respect through accurate terminology and action.”
Several organizations representing Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain Canadians have endorsed B’nai Brith Canada’s call for the federal government to ban the public display of Nazi symbols, including the Hakenkreuz.
The Swastika, derived from the ancient Sanskrit word for “good fortune” or “well-being,” has been a sacred symbol in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism for thousands of years, appearing in temples, shrines, and religious texts. However, the statement mentions that the Nazi Party appropriated the Hakenkreuz in the 1920s, officially adopting it as a symbol of the Third Reich in 1935.
The statement notes: “This symbol contains features that render it distinct from the sacred Swastika and has become synonymous with hate and bigotry. Unfortunately, the Hakenkreuz and Swastika have been unduly conflated in the West for decades.”
Ragini Sharma, president of the Canadian Organization for Hindu Heritage Education, expressed support for the initiative, describing it as a reaffirmation of long-standing Jewish-Hindu solidarity. “Hindus and Jews have a centuries-old foundation of friendship and allyship that continues today. This concrete step to delink our sacred Swastika from the Nazi hate symbol, the Hakenkreuz, greatly strengthens the bonds of our friendship,” Sharma said.
Rishabh Sarswat, president of the Coalition of Hindus of North America, described the effort as a “historic moment” for Hindus, Buddhists, Jews, and Jains. “CoHNA stands firmly against all forms of hate. With antisemitism at an all-time high in Canada and Hinduphobia escalating at an alarming rate, now is the time for Hindus and Jews—natural allies—to unite, stand strong, and push back against this rising tide of hate.”
The initiative has already gained traction at the municipal and provincial levels. Several municipalities in Ontario have endorsed B’nai Brith Canada’s call to restrict the public display of the Hakenkreuz and other Nazi symbols. On Mar.6, Saskatchewan became the first province to formally support the campaign.
The campaign has been endorsed by multiple organizations, including the Canadian Organization for Hindu Heritage Education, the Vishwa Jain Sangathan Canada, the Swastika Awareness Coalition, the Buddhist Council of New York, and the Heiwa Peace and Reconciliation Foundation of New York.
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