TNR Watch: A Wake-Up Call for the Canadian Government

Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau’s stunning announcement that agents of the government of India may have been involved in the assassination of a Sikh community leader in British Columbia highlights the threat that transnational repression poses to diasporas.. The incident also makes it clear that warnings of imminent danger issued by law enforcement, one of the most common security responses to extraterritorial threats, are not sufficient to ensure the safety of targeted individuals. To properly address the challenge of transnational repression, Canada must recognize that it is more than just a violation of sovereignty and take practical steps to protect the human rights of everyone living within the country’s borders.

A bombshell speech: On September 18, Trudeau announced that Canada’s security services had intelligence linking “agents of the government of India” to the June murder of Sikh activist and Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police are still investigating the case. If the involvement of the Indian government is confirmed, Nijjar’s assassination would be one of the most brazen acts of transnational repression in recent memory.

Canada’s approach: Canadian authorities have been aware for some time of the threat that foreign states pose to diaspora communities. But the government primarily views the problem as a national security matter. In his announcement, Trudeau declared that the Indian government’s possible role in this assassination represented “an unacceptable violation of our [Canada’s] sovereignty.” Transnational repression is more than just an attack on sovereignty, however: it is a threat to human rights and democratic institutions. A recent report written by a group of Canadian international human rights lawyers underscored Ottawa’s responsibility to protect the fundamental rights of people who may be targeted on its soil under treaties like the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

The limits of self-protection: According to media reports, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service informed Nijjar of the existence of credible threats to his safety. But authorities do not appear to have done much else for him or for other Sikh community leaders. Moninder Singh, a prominent Sikh activist, stated that although security personnel warned him to leave his home for the safety of his family, they did not provide him, Nijjar, or others with any concrete tools for protection. This experience is unfortunately common. People facing extraterritorial threats are often left on their own to decide how best to protect themselves.

Seeking accountability: Canada’s expulsion of a top Indian diplomat and Trudeau’s presentation of Ottawa’s accusations to Indian prime minister Narendra Modi at the Group of 20 summit in September are appropriate first responses to this alleged episode of transnational repression. More can still be done. If additional evidence connecting specific Indian government officials to the crime is disclosed, Ottawa could impose targeted sanctions on those individuals. In addition to its recent suspension of negotiations on a free-trade agreement, the Canadian government could restrict arms sales to India. Holding states accountable for acts of transnational repression, regardless of whether they are perceived as adversaries or democratic partners, is crucial to curbing the spread of this corrosive authoritarian practice.