TUESDAY, 6 September 2025

The Australian Human Rights Commission has accepted a section 18C complaint made against the Hindu Council of Australia (HCA), Mr Sai Paravastu, the President of the Council and Ms Neelima Paravastu, the head of PRO, Media & Marketing.

The complaint concerns conduct between September 2024 and July 2025 and was lodged by Alliance Against Islamophobia (AAI), which alleges HCA, Mr Paravastu and Ms Paravastu engaged in serious and repeated public acts of racial hatred against South Asian Muslims.

Legal representation is being provided by Birchgrove Legal. The complaint details acts of racial hatred, primarily disseminated through social media platforms including X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram, but also traditional media. The posts are alleged to reasonable likely offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate another person or group of people on the basis of their Muslim ethno-religious origin.

AAI said the behaviour of HCA members left them feeling marginalised and unwelcome in their own community.

“The HCA’s mission speaks of living in harmony with other religious and cultural communities, yet the behaviour we have experienced is the exact opposite,” a spokesperson for AAI said.

“As Muslim members of Australia’s diverse multicultural fabric, we cannot simply stand by while an organisation acts against the very principles it claims to promote,” AAI said.

“This is also a message to institutions and leaders who continue to fund, platform or legitimise an organisation that behaves this way. If you will not act to protect communities from harm, then we will use the law to ensure our rights are respected.”

“We believe in an Australia where faith is not a barrier to dignity, safety or belonging.”

The complaint seeks the following outcomes:

• A formal public apology from HCA and their committee members;
• Immediate removal of the offending material from all platforms;
• An enforceable undertaking to cease further vilifying conduct; and
• Compensation for the harm and distress caused.

Moustafa Kheir, Principal Lawyer at Birchgrove Legal, stated:

“The HCA and key members of its team have unfortunately engaged in conduct that singles out Muslims in ways that are threatening and exclusionary.”

“The publications consistently depict Muslims, particularly those of South Asian descent, as inherently criminal, uniformly threatening to society, and as a group that should be excised or exiled from public places.”

ENDS

MEDIA CONTACT:

info@birchgrovelegal.com.au