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Sikhs third-most targeted religious group in US: FBI
According to the FBI report, incidents targeting Sikhs were surpassed only by those targeting Jewish and Muslim communities.
Representative Image / Image-Unsplash
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) released its latest nationwide hate crime data earlier this week which shows Sikhs as the third most-targeted religious group in the United States.
The data, covering hate incidents in 2023, highlights that while anti-Sikh hate crimes have slightly decreased from 2022 levels, Sikhs continue to face significant levels of bias-motivated violence.
According to the FBI report, incidents targeting Sikhs were surpassed only by those targeting Jewish and Muslim communities. Overall, hate crimes in the country increased, with the FBI recording 11,862 incidents in 2023, up from 11,634 in 2022.
While the increase is concerning, it does not yet account for potential spikes in hate crimes linked to rising national tensions since Oct 2023 or the 2024 presidential election cycle, Sikh Coalition, a US-based Sikh civil rights organization, said.
It has pointed out that despite a notable improvement in the data collection process due to the FBI’s complete transition to the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS), many local law enforcement agencies continue to report zero hate crimes within their jurisdictions.
"While we are heartened by the slight decrease in anti-Sikh hate incidents, we remain alarmed that Sikhs continue to be one of the most frequently targeted religious groups," said Mannirmal Kaur, federal policy manager for the Sikh Coalition.
"The overall increase in hate crimes and the lack of comprehensive reporting from law enforcement underline the need for continued vigilance and advocacy.”
The Sikh Coalition continues to push for stronger measures, including the Improving Reporting to Prevent Hate Act (IRPHA), to address underreporting and improve law enforcement accountability.
The organization will meet with policymakers in Washington, DC, this week to discuss solutions for hate crime prevention, while also providing legal support to hate crime survivors.
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