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Sikh Coalition releases report on transnational repression
The report provides updated policy recommendations for the White House, federal agencies, and Congress on enhancing protection for U.S.-based Sikhs.
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The Sikh Coalition, a U.S.-based Sikh advocacy organization, has released a report that explores transnational repression—both historical and recent events— against U.S.-based Sikhs.
Titled “So Many Targets: Contextualizing Modern Indian Transnational Repression Against the Sikh Community,” the report provides policymakers, the media, and civil rights allies with a clearer understanding of the threats facing the Sikh community.
The report outlines both historical and recent events that drive Indian transnational repression against the Sikh diaspora and examined various forms of transnational repression drawing from direct interviews conducted by the Sikh Coalition with individuals and gurdwaras, as well as publicly available sources.
It highlighted the difficulty in formulating a strong response when U.S. strategic interests are involved citing the Biden Administration's cautious stance on Indian transnational repression and the Trump Administration's inadequate reaction to a high-profile case of Saudi Arabian transnational repression in 2018.
“We created ‘So Many Targets’ to consolidate all of the most up to date information about this threat to Sikh civil rights and lives in one place,” said Harman Singh, Sikh Coalition executive director. “We are hoping that it will serve as a valuable resource for individuals not familiar with the scope and urgency of this threat—particularly policymakers, who must take further action to protect not just the Sikh community but all communities from transnational repression.”
Allegations against India
On Sept. 18, 2023, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau revealed that Canadian intelligence agencies were investigating "credible allegations of a potential link" between the Indian government and the murder of Canadian Sikh Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia in June 2023.
“Trudeau's announcement was significant to many in the Sikh diaspora because it marked the first time a world power was openly accusing India of transnational repression-specifically against the Sikh community,” the report said.
In November last year, US authorities revealed that an Indian government official had orchestrated the plot in the attempted murder of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a prominent leader of the Khalistan movement and a dual citizen of the United States and Canada.
In April, the US White House stated it viewed the reported involvement of the Indian intelligence service in the assassination plots as a very serious matter. According to the US Justice Department indictment, Indian national Nikhil Gupta was implicated in the alleged attempt to kill Pannun.
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