WSO Requests Minister Mendicino for Urgent Evacuation of Afghan Sikhs & Hindus

Ottawa (August 6, 2021):  The World Sikh Organization of Canada has written to Canadian Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino asking him to intervene to save the lives of 250 Afghan Sikhs and Hindus who remain in Afghanistan. 

Today, the WSO also provided the Minister with lists of the Sikhs and Hindus remaining in Afghanistan, including names, contact information and passport details. 

In light of today’s report of the Taliban having desecrated and removed the Nishan Sahib (Sikh religious flag) of Gurdwara Thala Sahib in Chamkani in Paktia province it is clear that the situation for Afghan Sikhs and Hindus will continue to deteriorate.  Thousands of Sikhs from across Canada as well as Sikh organizations and gurdwaras have also called on the Government of Canada to include Afghan Sikhs and Hindus in the evacuation of interpreters and staff who assisted Canadian Forces.  The Sikh community is willing to privately sponsor the evacuation and settlement of these refugees.

The full text of the letter to them Minster is below: 

The Honourable Marco E. L. Mendicino, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

Dear Minister Mendicino,

RE:  Urgent Evacuation of Afghan Sikhs & Hindus

We are writing to request your urgent action in saving the lives of approximately 250 Afghan Sikhs and Hindus who remain in Afghanistan. 

In light of the Government of Canada’s ongoing program to evacuate Afghan interpreters and staff who assisted the Canadian Armed Forces we urgently request that Afghan Sikh and Hindu families also be evacuated immediately. 

In this regard, we are including with this correspondence, complete lists of the Sikhs and Hindus remaining in Afghanistan along with their locations, contact information and passport details. 

As the situation on the ground in Afghanistan deteriorates at a frightening rate, the lives of Afghan Sikhs and Hindus are now in severe peril. Just today, a report has been received that the advancing Taliban have desecrated and removed the Nishan Sahib (Sikh religious flag) of Gurdwara Thala Sahib in Chamkani in Paktia province. The caretaker of the Gurdwara has also reportedly been threatened by Taliban commanders. As you know, last year 24 Sikhs lost their lives in the terrorist attack on Gurdwara Sri Guru Har Rai in Kabul and subsequently, Sikhs have been targeted with several bombings and abductions. 

The Afghan Sikh and Hindu community are desperate for assistance. There is no doubt that this vulnerable and very visible community will continue to be targeted with attacks and more lives will be lost. Sikhs from across Canada have written to you requesting your attention to this matter, as have major Sikh organizations and gurdwaras.  In July 2020, 25 Canadian MPs from the Conservative Party of Canada, NDP and Green Party also wrote to you requesting a special program for Afghan Sikh and Hindu refugees.

The time to act is now. Any further delay in evacuating this vulnerable group will cost lives. The situation is one of life and death, and it is no longer a question of if but rather a question of when the next attack will occur.

The Sikh community is willing to privately sponsor these refugees and fully assist in their settlement here. 

We ask that steps be taken, immediately, to evacuate Afghanistan’s Sikh and Hindu population. 

Yours truly,

Tejinder Singh Sidhu
President
World Sikh Organization of Canada

The 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.