WSO to Host #AskCanadianSikhs Panels on Inclusion of Sikhs in 2018 Terrorism Report

Ottawa (March 6, 2019):  This month, the World Sikh Organization of Canada will once again be hosting the #AskCanadianSikhs panel series in Brampton, Edmonton and Surrey.  The subject of this year’s panels will be the inclusion of “Sikh (Khalistani) Terrorism” in Public Safety Canada’s 2018 Report on the Terrorism Threat to Canada.

Last year, in response to misleading reporting and false allegations of extremism and radicalism, Sikh Canadians came together and spoke out against the misleading narrative created by a small group of reporters with the #AskCanadianSikhs campaign. The WSO held the first series of #AskCanadianSikh panels to address these issues in April 2018. 

This year, Sikhs across Canada expressed their shock and disappointment at the inclusion of “Sikh (Khalistani) Terrorism” to the 2018 Public Safety Canada Report on Terrorism Threats to Canada.  The report does not make any reference to current extremist activities in the Sikh community and simply states, “some individuals in Canada continue to support Sikh (Khalistani) extremist ideologies and movements.”

Despite a widespread outcry by Canadian Sikhs and many elected officials who rejected the inclusion of the Sikh community, the Report has not yet been revised and the section continues to be included.

To address this issue, the WSO will be hosting a panel series featuring Dr. Jasjit Singh, renowned UK researcher who has done extensive research on the maligning of the Sikh community within media and government.  Dr. Singh will be joined by WSO's Balpreet Singh and various local panelists across the country to explore the reasons behind the maligning of the Sikh community and what the community can do in response. 

Dates & Links to Register:

• Friday March 15 2019:  Brampton;  Brampton City Hall, 2 Wellington Street West, from 6.30 to 8.30pm EST  https://wsoontario.eventbrite.ca
• Saturday March 16, 2019:  Edmonton at 10111 Ellerslie Road Southwest from 4 to 6pm MST https://wsoalberta.eventbrite.ca
• Sunday March 17, 2018:  Surrey at Surrey City Hall 13450 104 Avenue from 1.30 to 3.30pm PST. https://bcwso.eventbrite.ca

The World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO) is a non-profit organization with a mandate to promote and protect the interests of Canadian Sikhs, as well as to promote and advocate for the protection of human rights for all individuals, irrespective of race, religion, gender, ethnicity, and social and economic status.