Police block rival protesters in Leicester amid clashes between Muslim-Hindu residents in September 2022. Photograph: Andrew Fox/The Guardian

Hindu Groups in UK Slam SOAS-Led Report on 2022 Leicester Unrest, Question Soros Funding and Investigation Impartiality.

Upendra Bharti | HENB | New Delhi | Feb 23, 2026:: Hindu organisations in the United Kingdom have strongly rejected a new inquiry report into the 2022 communal unrest in Leicester, alleging that it unfairly blames Hindus and the ideology of “Hindutva” while downplaying attacks on the Hindu community.

The report, titled Better Together, was produced by an independent commission led by academics from SOAS (School of Oriental and African Studies) University of London and the London School of Economics (LSE), in collaboration with the Monitoring Group. The findings were made public on Monday.

Concerns Raised by Hindu Organisations

The Hindu Community Organisations Group (HCOG) Leicester, which says it represents more than 50,000 Hindus in the city, stated that the vast majority of Hindu groups boycotted what it described as the “Independent Commission of Inquiry.” The group raised “serious concerns” about the inquiry’s impartiality, funding, and the composition of its panel.

According to the report itself, the commission received funding from the Open Society Foundations. HCOG alleged that the inquiry was backed by a £620,000 grant linked to billionaire philanthropist George Soros, whom it described as “known for his critical stance on India and Hindus.” The group argued that such funding casts doubt on the neutrality of the findings.

In a statement, HCOG said the report does not reflect the “true picture” of events during the violence in Leicester. It claimed that the 2022 unrest involved targeted attacks on Hindu homes, temples, and individuals, citing incidents such as vandalism of a Hindu temple and assaults on Hindu youth. The organisation alleged that the inquiry downplayed these incidents while amplifying what it termed “unverified claims.”

Several other UK-based Hindu organisations echoed similar concerns, asserting that the report unfairly attributes much of the unrest to Hindus and Hindutva ideology while overlooking anti-Hindu narratives circulated on social media during the period of tension.

What the SOAS-Led Report Concludes

The independent inquiry examined the communal clashes that took place in Leicester during August and September 2022. The unrest involved confrontations between sections of the Hindu and Muslim communities and resulted in arrests, injuries, and heightened communal tensions.

Key conclusions of the report include:

• Misinformation and disinformation circulating online played a central role in escalating tensions between Hindu and Muslim communities.
• Leadership and policing failures contributed to the disorder by allowing mistrust to grow.
• Individuals from both communities were victims and perpetrators during the unrest.
• Broader social and political factors, including imported ideologies such as Hindutva and political Islamism, were identified as potential risks to communal harmony.

The report also makes several recommendations aimed at preventing future violence. These include improved community engagement initiatives, enhanced police training to better understand communal dynamics, and the creation of a permanent unity forum in Leicester to foster dialogue and trust.

Ongoing Debate Over Narrative

The backlash from Hindu organisations underscores continuing disagreements over how the 2022 events should be interpreted. While the inquiry frames the unrest as a complex situation fuelled by online misinformation, identity politics, and institutional shortcomings, critics argue that it disproportionately singles out Hindu groups and ideologies.

The controversy also reflects wider debates in the UK around communal identity, discrimination, free speech, and the influence of international political narratives on diaspora communities.

Background: The 2022 Leicester Unrest

The unrest in Leicester in 2022 followed a period of rising tensions between sections of the Hindu and Muslim communities. Analysts have pointed to a combination of local grievances, social media amplification, and disputes linked to a cricket match between India and Pakistan as contributing factors.

Clashes involved marches, counter-protests, alleged assaults, and vandalism, prompting a significant police response. In the months that followed, various reports and investigations highlighted the role of polarising online content and inflammatory rhetoric in escalating the situation.

As the debate over the Better Together report continues, community leaders and policymakers face the challenge of balancing accountability with reconciliation in one of the UK’s most diverse cities.
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Inputs from Agencies.