Temple Walls Defaced In Australia: A Look At Recent Similar Attacks

In yet another attack on religious faith, a temple in Brisbane, Australia was attacked on Saturday morning. The vandalism was noticed when devotees came for their morning prayers on Saturday morning.

The walls of the Shree Laxmi Narayan Temple in the south of Brisbane were defaced with graffiti on Saturday, a report said. This is the fourth such incident involving a temple in Australia in two months.

The recent attack comes close on the heels of several temples defaced and sprayed with anti-India slogans in other parts of the world. Here's a look at a few incidents:  

1. Gauri Shankar Mandir, Canada

Gauri Shankar Mandir, a prominent Hindu temple in Canada, was defaced with anti-India graffiti in Canada. It was suspected that the temple was defaced by Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) and other Khalistani group.

Following the incident, Indian-origin Member of Parliament in Canada, Chandra Arya, condemned the attack and raised the issue of ‘hate-crime’ in the Canadian parliament on Wednesday.

Raising the issue, Arya said, “Hindu Canadians are deeply pained by the rising Hinduphobia in Canada." Calling it an “alarming trend,” he called upon Canada to stop rising hate-crimes against Hindus.

2. Ram Mandir, Canada

In yet another anti-Modi hate spree, a Ram Mandir in Canada's Mississauga was defaced with anti-India graffiti and controversial slogans in February last month.

The miscreants wrote slogans like 'Declare Modi Terrorist (BBC)', 'Sant Bhindrawala is martyr' and 'Hindustan Murdabad'.

Condemning the act, the Consulate General of India said, "We strongly condemn the defacing of Ram Mandir in Missisauga with anti-India graffiti. We have requested Canadian authorities to investigate the incident and take prompt action on perpetrators."

3. ISCKON Temple, Australia

In the same month, the walls of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) temple also known as the Hare Krishna Temple in Melbourne's Albert Park were found by the temple management stained with graffiti written "Hindustan Murdabad".

“The High Commission of India strongly condemns the deeply disturbing incidents of vandalisation, including of three Hindu temples in Melbourne in recent weeks. The frequency and impunity with which the vandals appear to be operating are alarming, as are the graffiti which include glorification of anti-Indian terrorists. These incidents are clear attempts to sow hatred and division among the peaceful multi-faith and multi-cultural Indian-Australian community,” the Indian High Commission in Canberra said in a statement.

Following a series of reported vandalism of Hindu temples in Australia's Melbourne, the Indian High Commission took a stance by standing "strongly" against the acts of vandalisation. Within a fortnight, three Hindu temples have been the targets of vandalism in Australia's Victoria state. "Kalistani supporters" have been alleged responsible for the anti-India graffiti and attacks on temples as per media reports.

4. Shri Shiva Vishnu Temple in Carrum Downs, Australia 

Khalistani supporters allegedly vandalised a Hindu temple in Australia with anti-India graffiti in January.

This was the second attack on a temple in Victoria state within a week. The vandalism of the historic Shri Shiva Vishnu Temple in Carrum Downs, Victoria, took place. 

This act of vandalism was noticed when the devotees came for ‘darshan’ as the three-day long “Thai Pongal” festival is being celebrated by the Tamil Hindu community.