A group of independent United Nations human rights experts has urged Canada to take all possible measures to protect Sikh activist Moninder Singh after Canadian authorities repeatedly warned him of credible threats to his life.
In a letter dated June 3 and released publicly under the UN’s standard procedures, the experts expressed concern over allegations of foreign intimidation and reprisals targeting Singh, a Canadian citizen. They noted that since 2022, Singh has received four “duty to warn” notices from Canadian authorities, indicating credible and imminent threats to his safety.
The experts called on Canada to ensure the protection of Singh, his family and others facing similar risks, while also accelerating investigations into the alleged threats, holding those responsible accountable, providing remedies to victims and preventing similar incidents in the future.
The letter was signed by UN special rapporteurs responsible for human rights and counter-terrorism, freedom of peaceful assembly, human rights defenders and freedom of religion, along with an independent expert on promoting a democratic international order. A copy was also sent to the Government of India. The experts serve independently under the UN Human Rights Council and do not speak on behalf of the United Nations as an institution.
Earlier this year, Singh travelled to Geneva to urge international action against what he described as India’s alleged campaign of targeting Sikh activists abroad and broader forms of transnational repression.
The issue gained international attention following the 2023 killing of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar outside a Surrey, B.C., gurdwara. Former prime minister Justin Trudeau publicly alleged Indian involvement in the assassination, a claim later echoed by Canadian intelligence agencies. India has consistently denied the allegations. The dispute led to a sharp deterioration in diplomatic relations, including reciprocal expulsions of diplomats in 2024, although ties have since improved under Prime Minister Mark Carney following renewed engagement and trade discussions.
Singh, like Nijjar, supports the Khalistan movement, which advocates for an independent Sikh homeland. The movement has long been a sensitive issue for India and remains a point of contention between New Delhi and several Western countries with large Sikh diaspora communities.
In their letter, the UN experts said the threats against Singh appear to fit a broader pattern of alleged transnational repression targeting Sikh activists in multiple countries, including Canada.
Responding to the letter, Singh said it underscores the seriousness of the threats faced by Sikh activists and warned that violence or intimidation by a foreign state against individuals in Canada would represent a significant challenge to the protection of human rights and democratic freedoms. He added that he remains committed to advocating for Khalistan through what he described as peaceful, rights-based principles rooted in international law.
