UN experts urge Canada to protect threatened Sikh activist

Five United Nations rights experts have implored Canada to implement every possible measure to safeguard Sikh activist Moninder Singh, who has faced repeated warnings from Canadian authorities about credible threats to his life. In a letter dated June 3 and made public two months later, the UN experts highlighted "concerning allegations of foreign intimidation and reprisals" against Singh, a Canadian national.

Since 2022, Singh has been issued four "duty to warn" notifications by Canadian officials regarding life-threatening risks. The experts urged Canada to take all feasible steps to protect Singh and his family, as well as similar individuals in Canada. They also demanded the prompt investigation of these allegations, accountability for perpetrators, adequate remedy for victims, and measures to prevent future incidents.

The letter was penned by the special rapporteurs on countering terrorism, freedom of peaceful assembly, human rights defenders, and freedom of religion, along with an expert on a democratic international order. UN special rapporteurs and experts, appointed by the Human Rights Council, are independent figures who report findings without speaking for the United Nations.

Singh visited the UN in Geneva to seek international action against India's alleged targeting of Sikh activists abroad and transnational repression, which India denies. The issue is fueled by accusations of India killing Sikh activists through organized crime groups, a claim Canada previously blamed India for in the 2023 assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a friend of Singh's who was killed near his temple in Vancouver.

Canada's then-PM, Justin Trudeau, publicly accused India, a charge later echoed by Canadian intelligence. Relations between India and Canada took a hit, leading to the expulsion of diplomats in 2024. However, relations improved after Prime Minister Mark Carney took office, culminating in an India visit in March to sign trade deals.

Like Nijjar, Singh is a fringe figure advocating for an independent Sikh state called Khalistan, a campaign dating back to India's 1947 independence and linked to assassinations and bombings, including the murder of a prime minister and the bombing of a passenger jet. The issue remains a contentious one between India and several Western nations with significant Sikh populations.

In their letter, the experts commended Ottawa's efforts to warn Singh about credible threats and expressed concern over the lack of additional protective measures since February, emphasizing the need for ongoing vigilance.