2016: Saving Afghan Sikhs

In 2016, the WSO began advocating for Afghan Sikhs and Hindus, urging the Government of Canada to establish a special resettlement program for these communities, who had long been targets of extremist groups. Attacks on Gurdwaras and workplaces claimed many lives, including the tragic March 25, 2020, attack on Guru Har Sahib Gurdwara in Kabul, where 25 Sikhs, including 4-year-old Tania Kaur, were killed.

In August 2021, the Government of Canada announced a special program for Afghan Sikhs and Hindus, and many families have since been resettled. The WSO, in partnership with the Manmeet Singh Bhullar Foundation, arranged the private sponsorship of several Afghan Sikh and Hindu families from Helmand province, who arrived in March 2022. However, many families continue to await sponsorship.