A prominent Canadian Sikh activist has said he will not be silenced after receiving fresh warnings of credible threats to his life and that of his family, raising concerns among civil liberties advocates and the Sikh diaspora.
Moninder Singh, who heads the Sikh Federation of Canada, said in a recent statement that he had been informed by police of a “credible threat” following earlier cautions in previous years. In video remarks shared with media, Singh rejected calls for silence, saying withdrawing from public life was not an option in the face of intimidation.
Police officers, acting on a duty-to-warn notification, reportedly advised him that information from a confidential source suggested a significant danger to his personal safety and that of his children, the first such warning to include his immediate family. Singh, based in Surrey, British Columbia, said he believed the threats were linked to his activism and outspoken criticism of human rights issues.
Singh has previously been warned by law enforcement of risks to his life tied to his advocacy, including after the 2023 killing of fellow Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was shot dead in Surrey. Canada’s national police and security agencies have in the past issued duty-to-warn notices to several community leaders deemed at risk.
The activist’s stance comes amid broader debate in Canada over foreign influence, community safety and the line between legitimate dissent and national security concerns. Governments and police agencies have publicly stressed the need to protect individuals facing credible threats while also navigating diplomatic sensitivities with foreign states.