Indian-American Charged with Hate Crime for Sikh Threats

Post by: Raman Preet

Bhushan Athale, a resident of Texas and an Indian-American, has been charged with federal hate crimes by the US Department of Justice (DoJ) for allegedly issuing interstate threats against employees of a Sikh nonprofit organization. The charges could lead to a maximum prison sentence of 10 years for interfering with federally protected activities by threatening to use a dangerous weapon, along with an additional five years for an interstate threat. Each charge carries a maximum fine of $250,000.

According to a complaint filed on September 17, 2022, Athale reportedly targeted the Sikh nonprofit organization dedicated to safeguarding the rights of Sikh individuals in the United States. The DoJ's statement revealed that Athale left seven voicemails expressing "extreme hatred" towards Sikh individuals employed by the organization, threatening to harm or kill them with a razor. The voicemails contained violent imagery, obscenity, and references to significant places, people, and tenets within the Sikh religion.

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Furthermore, the investigation uncovered that Athale allegedly targeted both the Sikh and Muslim communities in two other voicemails sent in March. Athale's history of making religious-based comments and threats was also revealed, including instances where he expressed hatred towards Pakistan and Muslims on a professional networking site. In one message to a former colleague, Athale reportedly stated, "I hate you, I just don’t know how to kill your whole family including you? Tell me??? I will figure it out.. Probably I will hire a Jew, they will be most happy."

The charges against Athale underscore the severity of hate crimes and the importance of addressing religious-based discrimination and threats. The DoJ's actions reflect a commitment to upholding the rights and safety of individuals from diverse religious backgrounds and communities.

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