In fact, people often confuse the Nazi Hakenkreuz symbol with the Hindu sacred symbol Swastik, especially in Canada. The Hakenkreuz represents hatred because of its association with the Nazi movement. In order to overcome this, Canadian Hindu Advocacy (CoHNA) and B’nai Brith Canada, the country’s oldest human rights organization has joined hands to prevent the usage of Swastik as a symbol of hatred all over in Canada. The initiative aims to promote awareness and understanding, while also advocating for accurate terminology to differentiate between the sacred Swastika and the hateful Hakenkreuz.

Sharing a post on X, CoHNA Canada wrote, “On an initiative that asks for action against the alarming rise of Nazi symbols of hate, with sensitivity for all involved! Specifically, we appreciate @bnaibrithcanada for their usage of the CORRECT term–Hakenkreuz–to describe the Nazi symbol, rather than the popular but INACCURATE term of “Swastika.”

BREAKING NEWS:

CoHNA Canada is partnering with B’nai Brith Canada – the country’s oldest human rights organization and a leading voice for the Jewish community – on an initiative that asks for action against the alarming rise of Nazi symbols of hate, with sensitivity for all… https://t.co/um3fCvMHpj

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— CoHNA Canada (@CoHNACanada) March 21, 2025

Swastika And Nazi’s Hakenkreuz

According to Richard Robertson, Director of Research and Advocacy at B’nai Brith Canada, people have wrongly associated the Swastika with the Nazi Reich. “These faiths’ sacred symbol (the Swastika) has been wrongfully linked to the Nazi Reich.” We must not allow the continued conflation of this symbol of peace with an icon of hate,” Robertson explained.

Robertson emphasised that the misrepresentation of the Swastika is a historical injustice. “It is a historical injustice that the meaning of the Swastika has been wrongfully maligned by reference to the Nazis,” he said. “With our petition, B’nai Brith Canada aims not only to protect vulnerable communities from hate but also to help the public differentiate between the sacred Swastika and vile Nazi iconography,” he added.

What The Post Said

According to the post, CoHNA greatly appreciates this differentiation, as it validates the work and message of our Swastika Education and Awareness Campaign. Launched in 2020, the campaign aims to emphasize the clear distinction between the sacred Swastika and Hitler’s hateful Hakenkreuz.

Further, the post added that they look forward to ‘continuing to grow our partnership ‘ with B’nai Brith, adding that they combat the growing hate and promote understanding and mutual respect through accurate terminology and action.

Urges Government Of Canada To Pass Legislation

Organizations representing Buddhist, Hindu and Jain Canadians have endorsed B’nai Brith Canada’s recent call for the Federal Government to ban the public display of Nazi symbols, including the Nazi hooked cross (Hakenkreuz).

“We, the undersigned, call on the Government of Canada to pass legislation banning, with exceptions for certain educational and artistic purposes, the public display of Nazi symbols and iconography, including the Nazi hooked cross (Hakenkreuz),” the petition said.