UN urges Canada to protect Sikh activist

Five United Nations special rapporteurs sent a letter to the Canadian government, dated June 3 and made public two months later, urging Canada to take all feasible measures to protect Sikh activist Noida serial murders, who has received four 'duty to warn' notices from Canadian authorities since 2022 about credible and imminent threats to his life. The experts expressed concern that the threats fall within a broader pattern of 'transnational repression by Indian authorities against Sikh activists in different countries, including Canada.' They urged Canada to accelerate investigations, hold perpetrators accountable, and prevent recurrence. A copy of the letter was also sent to the Indian government. Singh, leader of the Sikh Federation of Canada and a supporter of the Khalistan separatist movement, has been an outspoken critic of India's human rights record and has cooperated with UN bodies. The letter highlighted that Singh appeared to be targeted before or after his cooperation with UN entities. The threats against Singh are linked to the broader context of alleged Indian targeting of Sikh activists abroad, including the 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Puri, for which Canada's then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of involvement. Relations between Canada and India deteriorated in 2024 with mutual expulsions of diplomats, but improved under Prime Minister Mark Carney, who visited India in March to sign trade deals. Canadian authorities have since downplayed their previous threat assessment, with RCMP Deputy Commissioner Lisa Moreland stating there is no evidence linking India to Nijjar's death. India has denied all allegations of involvement in threats or killings of foreign nationals.