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@WorldSikhOrg
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Promoting & protecting the interests of Sikh Canadians | #AskCanadianSikhs | Sikh Youth Leadership Institute | Sikh Family Helpline | Sikh Mentorship Program
Canada
Joined February 2010
The World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO) condemns the security operations in Punjab to arrest Sikh leader, Bhai Amritpal Singh. Indian authorities have announced the mass suspension of internet services across Punjab until 12pm Sunday citing a threat to “public order by
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In yesterday's emergency debate on Indian interference, @sukhdhaliwal, gave a powerful and emotional speech about his own experience in facing Indian intimidation as an MP for speaking out about human rights abuses in India. Including being denied a travel visa to visit India. He
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Tonight at an online event commemorating Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s Gurpurab, @JustinTrudeau expressed concerns about the right to peaceful protest and the #ChaloDelhi campaign in India. He confirmed that Canada has raised the issue with Indian authorities.
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The WSO is very concerned by the abduction of Sikh activist Papalpreet Singh's family members, including his wife, parents, and brother in law. Such barbaric abductions violate fundamental human rights and democratic norms but are a method commonly used by Indian Security
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PRESS RELEASE: NIJJAR ASSASSINATION FAILURE OF CANADIAN INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES. 🔗 “The assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar is gravely alarming for Sikhs in Canada. Nijjar openly and repeatedly stated that he would be targeted by Indian intelligence and
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The WSO is appalled by the comments made in this video. We call on the @TorontoPolice to investigate and press charges under the hate speech sections of the Criminal Code.
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BREAKING NEWS: WSO CONDEMNS THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA’S INVOLVEMENT IN THE KILLING OF CANADIAN SIKHS ON CANADIAN SOIL. 🔗. Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed what Canadian Sikhs have known for months- that credible evidence exists to substantiate
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83,000 Sikhs lost their lives in WW1 & WW2. Sikh soldiers were reinforcing a weakened Canadian division on Flanders Fields. Sikhs and Canadians defended the line, shoulder to shoulder as brothers in arms. We know all about the sacrifice behind the poppy @CoachsCornerDC.
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Today, we received notice from Twitter notifying us that our tweet remembering the Sikh genocide & the sacrifice of Khalra allegedly violates Indian law(s). A perfect example of India criminalizing dissent, including for stating well accepted facts. #NeverForget1984 #KhalraWeek
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Gurdwara Karte Parwan in Kabul, Afghanistan is currently under attack. Several Sikh families currently live within the complex. A similar attack took place at Gurdwara Guru Har Rai in March 2020 where ISIS-K killed 25 Sikhs. We continue to monitor the situation. #SaveAfghanSikhs
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🚨CALL TO ACTION🚨. ISIS has attacked a Gurdwara in Kabul, killing over 24 Sikhs. They even detonated a bomb near the cremation site. This is unacceptable, and now is the time to push our federal MPs once again to bring our Sikh brothers and sisters to safety.
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Happy Bandi Chorr Divas! . Today our sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji was released after a wrongful imprisonment at Gwailor Fort. His compassion shone brightly as, upon his release, Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji not only secured his freedom but also negotiated the release of 52
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Today, June 1st we remember the thousands of Sikhs massacred at Sri Darbar Sahib and dozens of Gurdwaras throughout India. As Sikhs commemorated the martyrdom of Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji, they were attacked by Indian Armed Forces under the direct orders of PM Indira Gandhi.
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WSO Legal Counsel, Balpreet Singh and WSO board member, Jaskaran Singh spoke with media about the current situation in Punjab. #PunjabUnderSiege
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WSO’s legal counsel, Balpreet Singh, was interviewed on @CTVNews today. He puts it best when he says “this is just the tip of the iceberg.”. #AskCanadianSikhs
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Hardeep Singh Nijjar was a Canadian citizen, assassinated in Canada, on gurdwara property, by a foreign government. The political unity that is calling out the GOI for its involvement in this murder represents the outcry of all Canadians and all persecuted minority communities.
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On June 1, 1984, the Indian Army launched a military assault on the Darbar Sahib killing thousands of innocent Sikhs gathered to commemorate the martyrdom anniversary of Guru Arjan Sahib. 1/4 #neverforget1984
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Extradition of 3 British Sikhs to India is unacceptable given India’s appalling human rights record. India habitually tortures & murders individuals in custody. WSO will closely monitor #WestMidlands3 trial. The outcome could have an impact on Sikh activism across the world.
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A statue of Maharaja Ranjit Singh was disrespected last night in Mississauga during a pro-Palestine protest. These actions were hurtful to the Sikh community. Maharaja Ranjit Singh is a symbol of Sikh sovereignty and the Sikh Kingdom and under his rule, all people were treated as.
Pro-Palestine protestors in Malton , Canada, placed a Palestinian flag and keffiyeh on the statue of Maharaja Ranjit Singh found at the Great Punjab Plaza beside the Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara.
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Hundreds of Sikhs in Punjab, including Sikh leader and activist Bhai Amritpal Singh, continue to be unaccounted for and are believed to be in the detention of Indian security forces. While the Punjab Police have acknowledged 207 detentions, unofficial figures are much higher.
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The WSO account has been withheld in India, alongside Sikh journalists and others. This comes as censorship of Sikh voices continues amidst draconian suspension of civil rights and democratic norms in Punjab. #PunjabUnderSiege
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A Sikh security officer in Kelowna, BC was subjected to racial abuse from a protesting anti-vaxxer yesterday. These racist incidents are deeply concerning & happening more frequently. If you experience racist harassment or discrimination please contact us info@worldsikh.org
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The phrase “Sikh (Khalistani) Extremism” was removed from the 2018 Public Safety Report because it stigmatized 🇨🇦 Sikhs without evidence. To suggest that those who wanted this change are extremists is outrageous. This rhetoric is especially appalling coming from a sitting MP.
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The World Sikh Organization alongside Ontario Khalsa Darbar are proud to partner with @RegionofPeel Health to provide Peel hotspots with access to Pfizer vaccines. If you are 18+ and live in the postal codes identified below, book now!. Link: #GetMyTeeka
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13 yr old Karanveer Singh Anand from Newmarket noticed a patka (#Sikh head covering) wasn't an option when creating an avatar for virtual school. He and his teacher helped create options that better represent Canadian Sikh students. #RepresentationMatters
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Every November, Sikhs across the world remember the state led Sikh Genocide that took place across India in 1984. #TheyLiveHere #SikhGenocide #NeverForget1984
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On July 28th, 1984, over 2,500 Sikhs from around the world gathered at a convention at Madison Square Garden to chart a way forward after the attack on Darbar Sahib. This event would lead to the founding of the World Sikh Organization (WSO). Many well known Sikhs such as Dr.
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These brave elderly Sikh men in Calgary didn't hesitate to help 2 young girls out of a frozen pond, using their turbans. “In their Sikh faith it’s a big thing to take your turban off but they didn’t think for one moment”.
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Today, Muslims around the world will mark the end of Ramadan and the start of #EidAlFitr. Wishing everyone celebrating a Happy Eid! #EidMubarak
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NSA is an oppressive law from colonial times which allows for the detention without charge of individuals for 12 months. This period can however be extended indefinitely if there is "fresh evidence" presented by the government. The NSA gives blanket immunity (under Section 16)
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WSO RELEASES REPORT ON INDIA'S DISINFORMATION CAMPAIGN AGAINST CANADA'S SIKHS. Read the report and the full press release below. 1/
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The World Sikh Organization of Canada has written to Foreign Affairs Minister @MarcGarneau, calling on Canada to condemn the violent attacks on farmer protestors in India. #farmersprotest
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This confirms what the community has always believed. Sikh voices on social media platforms are censored to appease the Indian government. #FarmersProtest #WarOnPunjab.
Twitter founder @jack shared in an interview with Breaking Points that India threatened to shut down Twitter, raid homes of employees, and more if Twitter didn't censor tweets and users supportive of the #FarmersProtest. Under @elonmusk, Twitter did ban and censor accounts at
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Today marks the 110th anniversary of the Shaheedi of Bhai Mewa Singh, the first Sikh Shaheed (martyr) on Canadian soil. This was a time of heightened tensions between the Sikh community and the government, who enacted outright racist policies against non-white immigrants.
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27 years ago, Shaheed Bhai Jaswant Singh Khalra was abducted, tortured and murdered for exposing the murders of 25,000 Sikhs orchestrated by the Indian government.
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The WSO stands in solidarity with protesting farmers facing rubber bullets and tear gas from Indian police and military as they march towards Delhi. With reports of numerous farmers being seriously injured, these violent tactics against peaceful demonstrations are deeply
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Currently 9 known Sikh detainees who are accused of being associates of Bhai Amritpal Singh are being held in Assam’s Dibrugarh Jail. Dibrugarh Jail is over 2700km away from Punjab. Beyond one phone call upon their arrival at the jail, Detainees have had almost no contact with
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On May 25th 1985 (Vancouver), the WSO held its first ever national convention following the events of the 1984 Sikh Genocide. During that time, the Sikh community was challanged, making figures like Gian Singh Sandhu (WSO founding president) and Dr Narinder Singh Kapany (father
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We request all Sikh Canadians to contact their local MP to express concern, ranging from attacks on Sikhs to the threatening of Gurdwaras in Delhi. Find your MP here: #FarmersProtest.
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We are closely monitoring developments with respect to the shooting incident in Indianapolis. We understand several Sikhs have been injured and lost their lives. We do ardaas for the victims, their families, and the community.
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Today, Canadian political leaders of all stripes share in condemnation of the Indian Governments assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Prime Minister Trudeau stated, “Any involvement of a foreign government in the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil is an
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Let's all take a moment to remember the 24 victims of yesterday's massacre in Kabul,Afghanistan. We are asking for ardassan for all the victims and their families. The community has reached out. We know you all want to help. A call to action will be posted soon. #SaveAfganSikhs
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'We live here, but when will we die?' Jaspal Singh Bhaya faced this question each day before coming to Canada as a Refugee from Afghanistan. He worries about those left behind. Today, your 1 min can save lives, this is our chance!. #SaveAfghanSikhs
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Congratulations to Dr. Harpreet Singh Kochhar on his appointment as President of the Public Health Agency of Canada. Dr. Kochhar has been a past SYLI presenter and is an inspiration for the next generation of Sikh leaders. @GovCanHealth
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We commend the @CanadianPM for raising the issue of foreign interference and freedom of expression with Prime Minister Modi during the G20. The WSO urges that India be included in the upcoming inquiry on foreign interference.
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WSO Board Member, Jaskaran Sandhu, spoke to CNN yesterday. Watch as he shares impacts of the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar on the US-India relations. #AskCanadianSikhs
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With your support, our #SaveAfghanSikhs advocacy campaign was a success! Thousand's of emails were sent to MP's across 🇨🇦. Yesterday, the govt announced a special program to bring 20K🇦🇫 refugees including Sikhs and Hindus. This is the power of the community when we come together!
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Human rights activist, (retd.) Justice Ajit Singh Bains has passed away. He fearlessly exposed human rights violations in Punjab when the price for doing so was death. His life will continue to be an inspiration for all human rights defenders.
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The WSO is concerned about India's ongoing attempts to assassinate Sikh activists around the world, including recent revelations from the US. Sikhs in the diaspora should be free to use their democratic rights without the fear of transnational repression.
FT Exclusive: A conspiracy to assassinate a Sikh separatist on American soil was thwarted by US authorities – who also warned India’s government after concerns that it was involved in the plot
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"We call on the Government of Canada to play an important role by raising concerns over the treatment of Punjab’s farmers with the Government of India and to call for an end to the violence against them.” - WSO President Tejinder Singh. Link to release:
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Please join us on August 15th for a fireside chat with @RanaAyyub on Criminalizing Dissent in India. The conversation will be moderated by our Director of Administration, @JaskaranSandhu_, on Zoom. Zoom Link: Zoom Webinar ID: 829 2124 5590
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PRESS RELEASE: WSO ADDRESSES 'DISTURBING BIAS' IN AFGHAN EVACUATION STORY. The World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO) is deeply concerned by a front-page story published today in the Globe and Mail entitled "Sajjan instructed special forces to rescue Afghan Sikhs during the fall
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Thank you to all the gurdwaras across Canada who worked hard to plan and execute Bandi Chhor Divas programs in accordance to local public health guidance. This was a massive undertaking that should not go unacknowledged by the sangat or public health officials. 1/2
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WSO Legal Counsel, Balpreet Singh, spoke with multiple media outlets about the recent assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO) calls on Canadian intelligence and law enforcement to fully investigate the assassination, including the role
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Wondering what we think Canada should do next? . Watch Balpreet Singh, WSO’s legal counsel, comment on what actions the Canadian government should commit to. #AskCanadianSikhs
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PLEASE WATCH & SHARE:.A direct plea from Afghan Sikhs to support our call to action. Remember, our #1 priority is direct sponsorship for those still in 🇦🇫. Template letter, curated MP contact list, background information: #SaveAfghanSikhs
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Sikh historical structures must be preserved. Too much Sikh heritage has already been lost in the name of kar sewa.
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The Canadian Govt did not arrange an evacuation/airlift for Afghan Sikhs & the Taliban have now taken control of Afghanistan. While the Taliban regime has promised their safety, Afghan Sikhs are assessing all their options. We are monitoring the situation. #SaveAfghanSikhs.
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Scenes from tonight of pro-India mob violence on the streets of Brampton are shocking, especially as we remember the 1984 Sikh genocide this month. Thank you @PeelPolice for stopping their march towards Gurdwaras & keeping the peace.
BREAKING | Pro-India protestors have blocked a major road in Brampton, attacking cars, shouting Hindu Nationalist slogans, waiving Indian flags, & shouting at local Police for blocking their access to a Sikh gurdwara. Traffic halts as streets have been blocked without permits.
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Twitter has sent us another legal notice informing us that Indian Law Enforcement has reported more of our content as violating “the law(s) of India.” This time our tweets sent out on June 1 commemorating the invasion of Darbar Sahib were flagged. 1/2.#neverforget1984
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Today marks the beginning of Sikh Heritage Month. It is an opportunity to raise awareness and celebrate the Sikh identity and our unique contributions to communities across this country. Sikhs have been in 🇨🇦 for over 130 years, weaving our stories into the cultural fabric.
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The year 2024 marks 40 years since the 1984 Sikh Genocide. The Battle of Amritsar in June and the mass killings of Sikhs across India in November are pivotal moments in Sikh history. The enduring legacy and impact of these events continue to resonate in the hearts of Sikhs
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We appreciate Mayor @JohnTory reaching out to WSO and Birkawal Singh to open lines of communication. Mayor Tory took responsibility for the issue and promised all impacted security guards would be rehired/reinstated, compensated, and the policy will be revised.
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WSO Twitter banned in India
This confirms what the community has always believed. Sikh voices on social media platforms are censored to appease the Indian government. #FarmersProtest #WarOnPunjab.
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We are so excited to announce the release of our stock image project! Sikh representation matters! To ensure the Sikh community is represented accurately, the WSO has released hundreds of stock images that are available for free for anyone in the world to use. #StockImages
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The Akal Takht has released the following sandesh (message) to the Sikh Community regarding #COVID19. Swipe for the english translation.
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On Jaswant Singh Khalra day, we commemorate the bravery of the human activist who exposed the systemic killings of 25,000 innocent Sikhs in India. His commitment and shaheedi to the preservation of truth echoes through the continued campaigns of justice in Punjab.
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On #RemembranceDay we commemorate the brave soldiers that served their country. We acknowledge their sacrifice & courage to protect the freedom & security of future generations . 65,000+ Sikh soldiers fought in WW1.300,000+ Sikhs fought in WW2.#Lestweforget #CanadianSikhSoldiers
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The Taliban just took Ghazni- one of last 3 cities that still had a Sikh population. The situation is dire. Sikhs need to get out. It was said in the past that 'logistics' was why Sikhs couldn't be evacuated. With these flights, that's no longer an issue. #SaveAfghanSikhs.
Last night, as part of recently-announced Special Immigration Measures, @CanadianForces members helped welcome another flight of Afghan refugees who assisted Canada in 🇦🇫. Our government will continue working hard to assist the many Afghans who have been there to help us.
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Prabjhot Singh reached out to WSO after he was harassed in class at @CDICollege by a student who said “did you forget how we slaughtered you guys in 1984?”. The College has re-opened the investigation.
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April 1st marks the beginning of Sikh Heritage Month in Canada. For over 130 years, Sikh stories have been woven into the cultural fabric that is Canada. We take the time to reflect on our community, our history, and envision the future we aspire to. We pay respect to those
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We have been informed by @instagram that after months of being flooded with offensive spam on #Sikh and other hashtags, a new filter has been introduced to address the issue. We continue to monitor the situation and engage with IG/FB about censorship of Sikh accounts and posts.
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On Friday, 🇮🇳 issued a travel advisory warning 🇮🇳 citizens & foreign students in 🇨🇦 of “a sharp increase in incidents of hate crimes, sectarian violence & anti-🇮🇳 activities in 🇨🇦”.The warning confused most as there is no evidence to indicate any rise in violence against Indians
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We are deeply saddened by the loss of Jaspreet Pandher from Edmonton, Alberta. Though he was only with us for a short amount of time, the community from across Canada will remember his contributions, wit, humour for generations to come.
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The WSO congratulates @icesinghhnic on being promoted as a play by play announcer in English for NHL games this season. Harnarayan has been part of @HkyNightPunjabi since 2008.
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The WSO shares a news clip from nearly four decades ago, illustrating the enduring impact of Indian interference aimed at Sikhs in Canada. India, both then and now, has consistently deployed intelligence officers to consulates and embassies in Canada for orchestrating
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As of the past few hours, Sikhs in Kabul have been told not to leave their homes. Explosive devices have been found outside their gurdwaras and there is a real fear another attack is imminent. This is the 3rd attack in 3 days. #SaveAfghanSikhs.
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In June of 1984, the Indian government unleashed a strategic attack on the Sikh community that extended beyond Amritsar, targeting 60+ Gurdwaras across Punjab and Haryana. Here is a list of the Gurdwaras that were attacked during this time. #NeverForget1984
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WE NEED YOUR HELP! . IN 1 MINUTE YOU CAN SAVE 200 LIVES!. Email your MP to include Sikhs & Hindus in the resettlement plan alongside Afghani Interpreters. ACTION:.Go to: & fill out your name, address & email.Share with family & friends. #SaveAfghanSikhs
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We mourn the loss of journalist, author and former Delhi MLA, S. Jarnail Singh who worked tirelessly to draw attention to the 1984 Sikh Genocide. Another untimely loss to the community due to the COVID pandemic raging in India.
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PRESS RELEASE: WSO Supports NDP Call for Boycott of G20 Events in India and Banning of BJP Officials. 🔗 . WSO has written to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly in support of the NDP call to boycott G20 events in
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Today we commemorate the brave soldiers that served their country. We acknowledge their sacrifice & courage to protect the freedom & security of future generations. Let us continue to honour their legacy. 65,000+ Sikh fought in WW1.300,000+ Sikhs fought in WW2. #LestWeForget
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"The World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO) condemned the “draconian” operation to arrest Singh and said it feared “Singh’s detention may be used to orchestrate a false encounter and facilitate his extrajudicial murder.”.
Indian authorities have blocked internet access for about 27 million people in the state of Punjab for a third straight day -- one of the country's most extensive blackouts in recent years -- as police search for a Sikh separatist on the run.
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The real threat to Canada are the arsons, homicides, extortions, & other organized criminal activities being orchestrated in our country by the Govt of India. For years, @ujjaldosanjh has falsely raised the specter of "Sikh extremism" without providing any actual examples. A sad.
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Jaskaran Sandhu talks about the impacts of the pause on the Indian government granting visas to Canadians. Watch his comments on @CP24. #AskCanadianSikhs
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The WSO obtained the letter written by the Indian consulate through a freedom of information request made to the Peel District School Board and supplied it to CBC News. Another example of blatant foreign interference by India in Canada.
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The PM has apologized and we acknowledge his apology. We hope that this focus on racism will encourage all party leaders to address the discrimination many face as a result of Quebec’s #Bill21 with strong positions and solutions to combat intolerance across Cda. #BattleBill21.
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We are concerned about the unjust detainment of a prominent Dalit and labour rights activist, Nodeep Kaur. The reports of physical and sexual violence she has faced in jail are unacceptable. Learn more about her in the article below #ReleaseNodeepKaur.
Opinion | #ReleaseNodeepKaur, from @jagjotkaur_ . "I dedicate this article to the brave, Nodeep Kaur and every Sikh woman who came before us.". #FreeNodeepKaur .
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India is ranked 150th in press freedom for a reason. The rampant censorship and intimidation of Sikh journalists and outlets covering the suppression of civil liberties and democratic rights in Punjab must be called out. India is only a democracy for some. #PunjabUnderSiege
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There is an important lesson here. The Indian media and government are known for pushing disinformation. It is no coincidence that India ranks 161st on the World Press Freedom Index. Canadian media must be weary and critical of parroting anything coming from Indian news and.
I was on this plane, present at both the aborted & final departures. No 🇮🇳 agent or dog set foot on board. Postmedia did not send a reporter on this trip, instead relying on non-credible rumours. This is a low for Cdn journalism. It’s embarrassing that it was published.
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Following today’s tragedy, we would like to update you on the resettlement of Afghan Sikhs & Hindus. Approximately 1,000 Sikhs and Hindus face persecution in Afghanistan- a number that has dwindled from 200,000 in the 80s. They live primarily in Kabul, Jalalabad and Ghazni.
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PRESS RELEASE: WSO WELCOMES CANADA’S DECLARATION OF INDIA AS A “SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC SAFETY RISK”. The World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO) welcomes Canada’s declaration of India's foreign interference activities as a “significant threat to public safety” in Canada. In a press
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The WSO delved into the archives to uncover footage from 1986, highlighting the media’s portrayal of Sikhs and its impact on Sikh children in Canada. Even though this footage is nearly four decades old, these issues persist today, as evidenced by the inaccuracies in the Globe
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The World Sikh Organization met with members of the Peel Police today to address the violence targeting Sikh places of worship, businesses and families. The police have been strong partners in addressing the violence and have assured us that lines of communication are open. We
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We are deeply concerned about this report and will be reaching out to @PeelSchools to ensure this student receives the support he needs. No student should endure bullying like this, but far too many Sikh students suffer in silence. If you are experiencing a similar situation,.
A Brampton family is fearful for their son’s safety after multiple alleged physical bullying incidents at Hanover Public School. @LoveenGill hears their plea to school officials.
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