A Hamilton Gurudwara in Ontario, Canada has become the latest target of transnational repression. The Gurudwara has called upon the police to remove the female family members of an alleged Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) terrorist who had been squatting on the premises for over a month. Sikh religious organizations based in Punjab, including the Akal Takht, are now pressuring the Gurudwara committee, demanding they “appear in person” to justify their actions and make “suitable arrangements” for the squatters.
The controversy began when female family members of Gurpreet Singh Virk, described as having connections to the terrorist group KLF, refused to vacate the Hamilton Gurudwara after more than a month of unauthorized occupation. When negotiations failed, the Gurudwara management committee involved local law enforcement.
Canada sees Foreign Interference in Religious Affairs
What followed illustrates a troubling pattern of foreign religious organizations exerting control over Canadian institutions. Punjab-based Sikh religious institutions inserted themselves into this local Canadian law enforcement matter, summoning committee members and demanding accommodations for the trespassers — a form of foreign interference operating through religious hierarchies.
This fits documented patterns of foreign organizations attempting to control diaspora religious institutions. In 2018, over 400 Gurudwaras worldwide banned certain officials due to continued interference in diaspora affairs. However, this new case represents something different — religious institutions like the Akal Takht asserting traditional religious authority over Canadian Gurudwaras, blurring the lines between spiritual guidance and political control.
Escalating Foreign Interference
Canada has the world’s largest Sikh diaspora — 770,000 people — making it a major target for various forms of foreign interference. While government authorities have focused on state-sponsored operations, this case reveals how foreign religious institutions can also exert inappropriate control over Canadian religious communities.
Broader Implications for Canada
This incident exemplifies how foreign interference operates beyond traditional state-sponsored activities. It demonstrates how foreign organizations can exert inappropriate control over diaspora communities through religious and cultural pressure rather than direct political coercion.
The outcome may establish an important precedent for how Canadian religious communities resist foreign organizational control while maintaining independence within Canada’s legal framework.
