The Raelians have leaped to the defence of an eight-year-old American child who drew a swastika as part of a third grade holiday assignment.

The group says the boy, who is of Hindu heritage and attends Old Bridge Township Elementary School in New Jersey, was "subjected to traumatic reprimand and racial bias counseling without parental approval."

The Raelian symbol features a swastika intertwined with two overlapping triangles that form a six-pointed star.