UN experts urge Canada to protect Sikh activist amid credible threats

A group of five UN human rights experts has formally urged the Canadian government to take all necessary measures to protect Sikh activist Moninder Singh, who has been repeatedly warned by Canadian authorities of credible threats to his life. The experts highlighted "concerning allegations of foreign intimidation and reprisals" against Singh, a Canadian national, noting he has received four "duty to warn" notices since 2022.

The letter, dated June 3 and made public two months later, was sent by special rapporteurs on counter-terrorism, freedom of assembly, human rights defenders, freedom of religion, and promoting a democratic international order. They called for accelerated investigations into the allegations, accountability for perpetrators, and steps to prevent future occurrences. A copy of the letter was also provided to the Indian government.

Singh had previously visited the UN in Geneva to advocate against India’s alleged targeting of Sikh activists abroad and transnational repression. Sikh activists claim India targets their community globally, including through alleged killings involving organized crime, charges India denies. The most prominent case cited is the 2023 assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada, which Canadian officials publicly attributed to India.

The UN experts expressed concern that the threats against Singh are part of a wider pattern of transnational repression by Indian authorities against Sikh activists in various countries. Singh stated that the letter underscores the extent to which the Indian state allegedly seeks to silence Sikh voices advocating for self-determination.