Consequences of Impunity Indian transnational repression and institutional failures in Canada

Consequences of Impunity: Indian Transnational Repression and Institutional Failures in Canada is a comprehensive report documenting the ongoing threat of Indian transnational repression targeting Sikhs in Canada, examining Canada's institutional response and outlining concrete recommendations for Canadian policymakers.

The report builds on Sikh Federation Canada's sustained work over the past two years to document Indian transnational repression, represent the concerns of affected Sikh communities, and press Canadian institutions to respond. Through ongoing engagement with gurdwaras, grassroots institutions, civil society organizations, media, parliamentarians, and government institutions, SFC has brought the experiences of targeted individuals and communities into public and parliamentary processes while advancing demands for protection, transparency, and accountability. This advocacy has also extended internationally through engagement with the United Nations Human Rights Council, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, and policymakers across multiple jurisdictions.

The findings are significant. Sikhs in Canada continue to face a serious and ongoing threat of transnational repression orchestrated by officials and proxies linked to the Government of India. This includes surveillance, coercion, threats of violence, targeting of family members, diplomatic pressure, and disinformation campaigns intended to suppress lawful political advocacy and community organization. The assassination of Shaheed Bhai Hardeep Singh Nijjar represents the most serious manifestation of this threat. Despite Canada's public acknowledgement of Indian foreign interference and state-linked criminal activity, significant questions remain about the full scope of these operations, what Canadian institutions knew, and why meaningful protection and accountability have remained inadequate.

The report also examines the growing international scrutiny of Canada's response. Four duty-to-warn notices issued to SFC National Spokesperson Bhai Moninder Singh since 2022, including a February 2026 warning involving threats to his wife and children, demonstrate the continuing severity of the threat. In June 2026, six UN Special Procedures mandate holders formally raised concerns with the Government of Canada regarding threats against Bhai Moninder Singh and called for concrete protective measures, independent investigations, and accountability. These developments, alongside further international human rights interventions, reinforce that Indian transnational repression is not simply a bilateral diplomatic issue, but a broader threat to human rights, democratic institutions, and the protection of political dissidents.

The report addresses these realities with concrete recommendations for Canadian policymakers:

• Establish immediate protective measures and security support for individuals facing credible threats from foreign actors
• Conduct ongoing reviews of Indian diplomatic and intelligence-linked activity in Canada, with prosecution or expulsion where appropriate
• Strengthen Canada's Rapid Response Mechanism to counter foreign disinformation and interference targeting diaspora communities
• Launch an independent, comprehensive public inquiry into Indian activity in Canada, including the circumstances surrounding Bhai Hardeep Singh Nijjar's assassination
• Complete the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security's study into Indian interference and criminal activities in Canada
• Ensure justice and accountability through the prosecution of those responsible and targeted sanctions against implicated Indian officials and agencies

This report is a call for meaningful action. Canada's acknowledgement of the threat must be matched by transparency, protection, and accountability. The consequences of continued impunity extend beyond the Sikh community, undermining fundamental freedoms, public trust, and the integrity of Canadian institutions. Sikh Federation Canada remains committed to ensuring that the targeting of Sikhs is documented and challenged wherever it occurs, and that those responsible are held accountable.

Read the full Consequences of Impunity: Indian Transnational Repression and Institutional Failures in Canada report to understand the ongoing threat facing Sikhs in Canada, the international calls for action, and the policy measures required to address it.

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