Ottawa (April 17, 2020) The World Sikh Organization of Canada is deeply disturbed by a report published today by Global News revealing that Indian intelligence agencies “attempted to use money and disinformation to “covertly influence” Canadian politicians”.

Ottawa (March 25, 2020): The World Sikh Organization of Canada is deeply saddened by the terrorist attack on Gurdwara Guru Har Rai in Shor Bazaar, Kabul, Afghanistan, today. Several attackers raided the gurdwara premises shortly before 8am and according to reports, killed at least 23 Sikhs. Afghan security forces continue to engage in a gun battle with the attackers.

Ottawa (February 27, 2020):  For the seventh consecutive year, Sikhs across Canada, in partnership with the World Sikh Organization of Canada, took part in the One Billion Rising movement by preparing over 2300 care packages for  women and children in shelters in 11 Canadian cities:  Surrey, Vancouver, Kamloops, Calgary, Saskatoon, Regina, Winnipeg, Toronto, Guelph, London, Ottawa and Montreal.  Personal care items, edibles and handmade Valentine’s cards prepared by Sikh children accompanied the packages. 

Toronto (February 26, 2020):  The World Sikh Organization of Canada welcomes the tabling of An Act to Proclaim Sikh Genocide Awareness Week in the Ontario Legislature.  The Private Members’ Bill was tabled today by Brampton East MPP Gurratan Singh and calls for the proclamation of the first seven days of November as Sikh Genocide Awareness Week. 

The Bill recognizes that Sikhs continue to be impacted by the genocide and other atrocity crimes perpetrated by the Government of India both in 1984 and in the decade that followed. 

Ottawa (February 25, 2020):  The World Sikh Organization of Canada is gravely concerned by the deteriorating situation in Delhi, India.  According to news reports, mobs shouting “Jai Shri Ram” have attacked Muslim homes and businesses in Muslim populated areas in north-east Delhi and also set a mosque ablaze in Delhi’s Ashok Nagar.  Reporters themselves have in many cases been attacked or asked to prove that they are not Muslims.  Indian police have been ineffective in controlling the violence and in some cases have been recorded siding with the mobs and attacking Muslims.  Thirteen deaths have so far been reported. 

Ottawa (January 25, 2020):  The World Sikh Organization of Canada views the Report by the Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by former Delhi High Court judge, Justice S.N. Dhingra as another dead-end for the victims of the 1984 Sikh Genocide. 

Although the Report has been submitted to the Government of India under “sealed covers,” details have emerged in the Indian media. 

The latest SIT, the 11^th commission of inquiry into the 1984 Sikh Genocide, was struck by the Supreme Court of India in January 2018 and was mandated to prepare its report by March 2018.  The long-delayed Report found that none of the 199 riot cases it investigated - accounting for 426 murders, can be re-opened or investigated afresh.  The SIT found that the “lack of interest shown by the police and by the authorities in handling these cases” during the initial stages and the way in which the judiciary “routinely” handed out acquittals to those accused, resulted in “no possibility of further investigation” in any of the 199 cases.

Ottawa (January 3, 2020):  The World Sikh Organization of Canada condemns the attack on Gurdwara Janam Asthan, Sri Nankana Sahib in Pakistan, today.  Gurdwara Janam Asthan is the birth place of the founder of the Sikh faith, Sri Guru Nanak Dev.

According to reports, a mob of protestors surrounded and pelted stones at Gurdwara Janam Asthan today.  Sikhs celebrating the birth gurpurab of Sri Guru Gobind Singh were stranded inside the gurdwara.  Members of the mob were also recorded threatening to evict all Sikhs from Nanakana Sahib and to build a mosque in place of the historical gurdwara. 

Toronto (December 18, 2019):  The WSO and several community organizations, including the Centre for Israel & Jewish Affairs (CIJA), National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), Bahá’í Community of Canada and The Mosaic Institute, have written to Ontario Minister of Health Christine Elliott, calling for the accommodation of Sikh paramedics and others who maintain beards as a part of their religious observance. 

Ottawa (December 12, 2019):  Following the release of a CBC News report entitled “Transport Canada investigates ‘racist’ song shared in no-fly list office 10 years after the fact”, the WSO has written to Transport Minister Marc Garneau expressing concern over the way the matter was handled.

According to the story, only last year, an official from Transport Canada looked into whether a racist email that was shared internally in 2008, undermined the integrity of Transport Canada’s involvement in the no-fly list program.

Ottawa (October 22, 2019):  The World Sikh Organization of Canada offers congratulations to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on being re-elected in Canada's 43rd general election.  The Liberal Party of Canada will return to Parliament Hill with a minority government.