Hatred toward South Asians is rapidly increasing in Canada 

June 26,2025

RED FM News Desk

A new report from the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD) reveals a significant surge in online hate directed at the South Asian community in Canada. This rise appears to be fueled in part by a domestic extremist group and the spread of anti-immigration rhetoric. 

“We found that South Asians were disproportionately targeted on X (formerly Twitter), more so than other ethnic or religious minorities,” said Steven Rai, a domestic extremism analyst with ISD, in an interview with CTV News. 

The report, which highlights both online and offline hate, found that anti-South Asian sentiment has been “skyrocketing.” It analyzed a large volume of data, focusing specifically on posts containing slurs against South Asians that either originated in or referenced Canada. 

According to the report, posts with anti-South Asian slurs increased by more than 1,350% on X between 2023 and 2024. Meanwhile, police-reported hate crimes against South Asians in Canada rose by over 227% from 2019 to 2023. 

Rai described the findings as “absolutely staggering.” He noted that while hate targeting other communities—such as Muslims—remained relatively stable, South Asians experienced a dramatic increase. He began analyzing the data after noticing a rise in hateful posts himself and wanted to verify if the trend was supported by the numbers. 

“I began to see narratives portraying Indians and other South Asians as invaders, dirty, or criminals gaining traction on social media,” Rai explained. “Unfortunately—but not surprisingly—we observed a marked increase in this kind of content starting in late 2023 and continuing through 2024.” 

The report also points to an uptick in hate targeting South Asian politicians, particularly during the federal election in April, with former NDP leader Jagmeet Singh being a frequent target. 

Rai suggests several factors are contributing to the issue, including public frustration over the housing crisis, job scarcity, and other economic concerns being misdirected toward immigration policies. In response to these pressures, Prime Minister Mark Carney has pledged to impose limits on immigration to help ease the housing shortage. 

The report also examines the influence of Diagalon, a white supremacist group that gained prominence during the COVID-19 lockdowns. According to Rai, its leaders have played a major role in spreading anti-South Asian hate, particularly against Indian Canadians.