Washington, Jan 27 (NationPress) The Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) has urged Ye, who was previously known as Kanye West, along with The Wall Street Journal, to rectify a paid advertisement that was published in the newspaper. They claim it contained a “factually inaccurate and deeply offensive” remark regarding the Swastika.

CoHNA stated that the advertisement, which featured Ye’s apology for his earlier antisemitic comments, wrongly equated the Swastika with a Nazi symbol of hate. The organization emphasized that this language is derogatory to almost two billion adherents of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and other indigenous faiths globally, for whom the Swastika is a sacred emblem.

In his apology, Ye remarked that he had “gravitated towards the most destructive symbol I could find, the Swastika.” CoHNA contended that this statement misrepresented a symbol that has been revered for millennia in Dharmic traditions.

“For thousands of years, the Swastika has signified auspiciousness, good fortune, and well-being within Dharmic traditions,” the organization stated, adding that the symbol “remains central to our religious ceremonies, festivals, and sacred spaces.”

CoHNA highlighted that Adolf Hitler never referred to the Nazi symbol as a Swastika. “Critically, Adolf Hitler never used the word ‘Swastika’ to describe his symbol of hate—he called it the Hakenkreuz (‘hooked cross’ in German),” the statement noted. It added that even Western media during Hitler's rise in the 1920s employed the term Hakenkreuz, reflecting the terminology used by the Nazis themselves.

The organization indicated that this historical distinction has been acknowledged by lawmakers and public entities in recent years. It referenced state legislation in Virginia and California, along with actions by the Canadian Parliament, “most recently last month,” recognizing the difference between the sacred Swastika and the Nazi Hakenkreuz.

CoHNA also pointed out that Jewish groups and scholars support this clarification. It stated there has been “a chorus of voices calling for accuracy in using this symbol,” including Jewish organizations such as B’nai Brith in Canada and Jewish intellectuals like Steven Heller.

The advocacy group remarked that it had previously addressed the matter with Ye and others. “In February 2025, when he was selling T-shirts featuring the Hakenkreuz, we reminded Shopify, the media, and the public that Hitler’s symbol is not the Swastika,” said Nikunj Trivedi, president of CoHNA.

“It is profoundly disappointing that a year later, he and reputable institutions like The Wall Street Journal continue to propagate this harmful misinformation that jeopardizes the religious freedom of billions who practice their faith and utilize their sacred symbols,” Trivedi added.

While recognizing Ye’s attempt to apologize for previous offenses, CoHNA stated that the latest statement caused a new injury. “While we acknowledge Mr. Ye’s attempt to apologize for past harms, we cannot accept the perpetuation of another harmful falsehood that stigmatizes the sacred symbol of billions of people,” the organization said.

CoHNA emphasized that accuracy and cultural context are crucial, especially in statements that reach a wide audience and have significant influence. It urged Ye and The Wall Street Journal to publicly clarify the distinction between the sacred Swastika and the Nazi Hakenkreuz, and to recognize the pain inflicted on Dharmic communities due to what it termed a mischaracterization.

CoHNA asserted that it is advocating for corrective measures rather than censorship, highlighting the importance of precise language when discussing symbols with profound religious and historical significance.