Hate crimes and harassment against South Asian communities, particularly those of Indian descent, have drastically increased in Canada, fueled by online extremist networks, according to a recent report by the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD).
Hate speech and targeted harassment against South Asians have significantly escalated in Canada, with individuals of Indian origin being specifically targeted, according to a report from the UK-based Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD). The report highlights a dramatic rise in police-reported hate crimes against South Asians in Canada, increasing by 227 percent from 2019 to 2023. This surge positions them as the third most targeted racial group in the country, trailing behind Black and Arab communities.
On social media, the volume of posts containing anti-South Asian slurs skyrocketed by over 1,350 percent between 2023 and 2024, with more than 26,600 posts using derogatory terms like “pajeet” between May 2023 and April 2025. This spike in online vitriol has occurred alongside direct calls for deportation, as South Asians face demonization both online and offline.
A significant part of the rise in hate incidents is attributed to Canadian extremist networks, notably the alt-right organization Diagolon. Founded in 2020 by former Canadian Armed Forces member Jeremy MacKenzie, Diagolon has been central to the dissemination of anti-South Asian rhetoric. The group has launched coordinated attacks on elected officials, political candidates, and advocacy organizations, frequently employing hateful slogans that advocate for mass deportation.
Diagolon members have shared content celebrating violence against South Asians, including a disturbing Telegram video circulated in March 2025 showing a South Asian man being hit by a vehicle. The video was captioned with the phrase: “Yeet the jeet before a jeet yeets you!” using the shortened slur “jeet” from “pajeet.” Such violent slogans have gained popularity within the group.
In one instance from April 2025, a prominent Diagolon figure derisively conflated Sikhs with Hindus, Pakistanis, and Bangladeshis, claiming they “look, sound and smell the same.” The group has also reposted footage showing Indians being struck by trains, accompanied by celebratory captions. Moreover, they have targeted political figures, such as Jeff Lal, a Hindu candidate from the People’s Party of Canada, calling for his deportation.
The April 2025 Canadian federal election debate saw an uptick in extremist narratives, with more than 2,300 anti-South Asian posts generating over 1.2 million engagements between March 1 and April 20. Political figures were not spared; New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh was singled out, as evidenced by posts describing Sikh voters in Nova Scotia as proof of a “demographic replacement.” A Khalistani activist was similarly demonized as an “Indian invader,” with demands for his deportation circulating widely.
Diagolon’s attacks were not limited to individuals but extended to civil society organizations. When the World Sikh Organization (WSO) released an election guide focused on combating hate, it was met with a barrage of slurs. A Diagolon leader responded with dismissive hostility, suggesting members of the South Asian community return to their ancestral countries.
The rise in hate is not confined to Canada. ISD’s research, utilizing ethnographic monitoring and social media analytics, indicates that nearly a quarter of these hate-laden posts originated from the United States, with 36 percent coming from India itself. Far-right commentary from the UK and US has also contributed to the vilification of Canada’s Indian-origin population, framing the country as a failing multicultural endeavor.
The ISD report contextualizes this surge in hate within a broader landscape of economic anxiety and changes in immigration policies. In the face of housing shortages and job insecurities, public frustration has been directed towards immigrant communities, predominantly South Asians. Advocacy groups warn that recent governmental measures to cap immigration might unintentionally enhance xenophobic narratives.
Concluding its findings, ISD underscores the threat posed by this rise in hate as extending beyond law enforcement concerns. “This surge not only threatens the physical and psychological safety of South Asian communities but also deters affected individuals from civic engagement and weakens social cohesion,” the report asserts.
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