Anti-Sikh sentiment in Canada (also known as Sikhophobia) is the manifestation of hostility, prejudice, or discrimination against Canadian Sikhs as a religious and ethnic group. This form of racism has affected Sikhs since Canada's Sikh community was established in 1897.[1] [2]
Anti-Sikh sentiment in Canada has a historical and contemporary presence marked by several key events and ongoing issues. Early instances include the 1907 Bellingham Race Riot, where South East Asian and South Asian immigrants, mostly Sikhs, were violently targeted by white mobs in Washington (state), spilling over into Canadian anti-immigrant sentiments and the Pacific Northwest. [3] [4] [5]
The 1914 Komagata Maru incident incident further highlighted institutional racism when 376 Indian passengers, mostly Sikhs, were denied entry into Canada and forced to return to India, where many faced persecution.
Post September 11 attacks, Sikhs in Canada experienced increased xenophobia and hate crimes, often being mistaken for Muslims due to their turbans and beards.[6]
In 1907, British Columbia enacted legislation that disenfranchised Asian immigrants, including Sikhs, reflecting the widespread anti-Asian sentiment of the period. These laws were part of a broader strategy to limit the political, economic, and social integration of Asian communities within Canadian society. This was called the Asiatic Exclusion League (AEL) the aimed to prevent immigration of people of Asian origin.
After the Bellingham race riot on September 5, 1907, many Sikh mill workers took refuge in Vancouver, British Colombia. [7] As South Asian and Sikh refugees arrived in Vancouver, AEL organizers pressed forward with a plan to march through the streets, waving signs and flags that called for “A White Canada.”[8] [9]
The Komagata Maru incident of 1914 is a poignant example of racial discrimination and xenophobia in early 20th-century Canada. The Japanese steamship SS Komagata Maru, which departed from Hong Kong and arrived in Vancouver on May 23, 1914, was carrying 376 passengers, predominantly Sikh immigrants from the Punjab region of British India.[10] Despite their lawful status as British subjects, the passengers were barred from disembarking due to Canada's restrictive immigration policies aimed at preventing non-European immigrants from entering the country.[11]
The Canadian government’s refusal to allow the ship’s passengers to land was a manifestation of the broader racial prejudices of the time. After two months of being held in harsh conditions aboard the ship, the Komagata Maru was forced to return to India. Upon arrival in Calcutta, the passengers were met with hostility from British colonial authorities, resulting in violent reprisals, imprisonment, and the deaths of several individuals.[12]
In 2016, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Liberal government formally apologized for the incident, acknowledging the grave injustices faced by the passengers and marking an official recognition of this dark chapter in Canadian history. The incident remains a stark reminder of the systemic racism faced by South Asian immigrants and has had a lasting impact on Indo-Canadian relations and the historical narrative of racial discrimination in Canada.[13] [14] [15]
Throughout the early 20th century, Sikhs, along with other Asian immigrants, faced significant obstacles in the labour market. They were often confined to low-paying, menial jobs and encountered hostility and discrimination from white labour unions. Exclusionary policies and societal prejudices restricted their employment opportunities, limiting them to sectors like agriculture, lumber mills, and railway construction, where they endured harsh working conditions and exploitation. This systemic discrimination not only hindered their economic prospects but also reinforced broader societal biases, perpetuating a cycle of marginalization and inequality for Asian communities in North America.[16] [17]
During the early 20th century, newspapers and political figures often depicted Sikhs and other Asian immigrants as threats to Canadian society, economy, and racial purity. This racist propaganda fuelled widespread public hostility towards Asian communities.[18]
During the mid-20th century, Sikhs in Canada faced pervasive racism and discrimination, reflecting the broader challenges of immigrant communities in a society that was often unwelcoming to visible minorities. Despite their contributions to the country, Sikhs were frequently marginalized, encountering significant barriers to employment, housing, and social acceptance.[19]
Employment discrimination was particularly rampant, with many Sikh men being denied jobs or promotions because of their turbans and beards, which were seen as incompatible with mainstream Canadian norms. In public spaces, Sikhs often faced hostility, and in many cases, landlords refused to rent to Sikh families or charged them higher rents, exacerbating their economic struggles. [20]
After the aftermath of Air India Flight 182, hostility towards Sikhs in Canada increased significantly, driven by a surge in suspicion and prejudice against the community. In the aftermath of the tragedy, Sikhs across the country experienced heightened discrimination and racism. Many faced harassment in public spaces. The media’s portrayal of Sikhs often unfairly linked the community with violence and extremism, which further deepened public mistrust. Despite the Sikh community's widespread condemnation of the attack, they faced a challenging period marked by fear, prejudice, and social marginalization in Canada.[21]
In Winnipeg and Calgary, authorities considered criminal charges against individuals who created and distributed an anti-Sikh calendar that portrayed a turbaned Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer alongside the derogatory question, "Is this Canadian, or does this make you Sikh?" The calendar, produced by Herman Bittner of Langdon, stirred significant controversy and concerns about inciting hatred. The calendar's distribution and the offensive portrayal prompted meetings between justice officials and Sikh representatives, who emphasized the need for legal action to address and curb such racist actions.[22] [23] [24]
In 1999, five White supremacists in British Columbia were sentenced for the killing of 65-year-old Sikh caretaker Nirmal Singh Gill. Lee Nikkel, 18, and Robert Kluch, 26, received 15-year sentences plus 18 months already served, for initiating and carrying out the attack. Radoslaw Synderek, 24, Daniel Miloszewski, 22, and Nathan LeBlanc, 27, were each sentenced to 12 years. Judge William Stewart condemned the crime as repugnant and racially motivated, hoping the sentences would deter violent hate crimes. The Sikh community and friends of Gill viewed the sentencing as justice served.[25] [26]
In March 2005, the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council (CBSC) censored Montreal's CKAC station for airing "abusive" remarks by psychiatrist Pierre Mailloux, who referred to Sikhs as a "the Sikhs are a gang, a gang of bozos". [27]
The CBSC, responding to complaints about the "insulting racism" of Mailloux's comments, ordered the station to issue a full apology. The panel noted that while Mailloux was entitled to his views on general immigration issues, his specific targeting of the Sikh community crossed the line and was unacceptable.
In 2005, in a junior soccer tournament in Vancouver, Gurindar Durah, a Sikh player, was barred from the soccer match for wearing his patka, a religious turban. This decision led to Durah's ejection and his team, Northwest United, walking out in protest. Durah's coach, Mario Moretti supported his decision, stating that the tournament ended for them once the referee made that ruling.[28]
In 2012, Gurmukh Singh a driver for Aaroport Limousine Services alleged they cut him off for refusing to trim or tie back his religiously-prescribed facial hair. This was settled in 2013, with agreement that Sikh drivers were no longer prohibited from maintaining untied beards under employment from Aaroport.[29]
On March 24, two Sikh men were attacked outside an Edmonton, Alberta liquor store after a rally by the members Bernard “Bernie” Miller and Kyle McKee of the white supremacist group Blood & Honour. One of the men was subjected to racial slurs inside the store and was then confronted and assaulted as he exited. During the attack, one assailant struck the victim in the head with a full bottle of alcohol and the broken glass was used to stab him.[30]
On January 2015, Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara in South Edmonton was vandalized with racist graffiti, including the phrase "Leave Canada." The gurdwara's management is addressing the incident, emphasizing education and community outreach as ways to combat ignorance. Community members were urged to remain vigilant and to report suspicious activity around gurdwaras to the authorities.[31] [32]
In November 2015, Sikh MP Harjit Sajjan, who was newly appointed as Minister of National Defence, faced racist abuse on social media. The incident occurred on the Canadian Forces' Facebook page, particularly on the French-language version, where derogatory comments were made by a few military personnel, including a Warrant Officer from CFB Valcartier.[33]
The Canadian Forces quickly deleted the comments and launched an investigation, reiterating that racism and discrimination have no place in the military. The incident gained significant media attention, both in Canada and India, highlighting the challenges of racism within the armed forces.[34]
In April 2016, Supninder Singh Khehra, a Sikh man from Toronto, was attacked in Quebec City, Quebec by Gabriel Royer-Tremblay in a racially motivated assault. The attack, which was recorded on video, involved Khehra being punched, kicked, and having his turban knocked off. The incident sparked national outrage, including condemnation from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Royer-Tremblay was sentenced to ten months in jail for the assault and related offences.[35] [36]
On December 23, 2016, a Sikh Gurdwara in Calgary, Canada, was vandalized in an incident that shocked the local Sikh community. The outer walls and doors of the Gurdwara were defaced with racist graffiti, including a swastika, a smiling face, and profane messages, spray-painted by unknown perpetrators. This act of vandalism, which took place in the early hours of the morning, was widely condemned by community leaders and organizations.[37]
During a public event in Brampton, Ontario, a heckler hurled racist comments at Canadian Sikh politician Jagmeet Singh, accusing him of supporting Sharia law and being a Muslim. Despite her outburst, the heckler later claimed she was not racist. The incident sparked widespread condemnation and highlighted ongoing issues of racism and ignorance.[38]
On October 2, 2019, New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh was confronted by a man in Montreal, Quebec who told him to “Cut your turban off.” Singh put one hand on the man’s shoulder and responded: “I think Canadians look like all sorts of people. That’s the beauty of Canada.”[39]
On November 21, 2018, members of the Gurdwara Guru Amardas Darbar Sikh Society in Kelowna, British Colombia discovered racist graffiti scrawled on the wall of their Gurdwara.[40] [41]
Amanpreet Singh Hundal, B.C. vice-president of the World Sikh Organization, expressed surprise and disappointment that such an event could occur in 2018. Despite the shock, community leaders viewed the incident as an opportunity to promote education and strengthen connections with the broader Kelowna community. The racist vandalism was widely condemned, serving as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges of ignorance and fear that minority communities continue to face.[42]
In January 2018, a Sikh man named Jaswinder Singh Dhaliwal was asked to remove his turban, while visiting a Royal Canadian Legion branch in Tignish, Prince Edward Island. The incident, which included racist remarks and threats from other patrons, was a result of a misunderstanding of the legion's headgear policy, which exempts religious garments. Legion president, Stephen Gallant later issued an apology. [43]
Bill 21 (Act respecting the laicity of the State), Quebec's secularism law enacted in June 2019, prohibits certain public sector employees, including teachers, police officers, and judges, from wearing religious symbols while on duty. This legislation has had a significant impact on religious minorities, particularly Sikhs, by restricting the wearing of religious articles such as turbans and kirpans in the workplace.[44]
Many opposed argue that the law discriminates against these groups, compelling individuals to choose between their religious practices and their working professions. [45] The law has prompted legal challenges and ongoing debate regarding religious freedom and secularism in Quebec.
In December 2021, in Brampton, Ontario, the Brampton Khalsa Montessori School was targeted with hateful graffiti against Sikhs, defacing the front of a ground-floor business beneath the school with offensive messages. [46]
On June 29, 2022, in a video on the YouTube channel 'Beat of the North,' Ron Banerjee, director of the Canadian Hindu Advocacy, was recorded expressing hateful remarks, stating he supports the killings of Muslims and Sikhs in India because "they deserve to die," while discussing unfavourable opinions about Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. [47]
On March 20 2023, a Sikh international student was swarmed and beaten by a group of people who ripped off his turban and dragged him across the sidewalk by his hair in Kelowna, British Colombia. [48]
On the evening of July 16, 2024, at approximately 9:55 PM, Rupinder Singh was attacked and had his dastaar (turban) stolen while returning home from the Scarborough Gurdwara Sahib. The assailant, who was wearing a bike helmet, snatched the turban and fled in a gold-white, older model 7-seater vehicle, possibly a Sienna, which was trailing behind; the incident was recorded by the perpetrators.[49] [50]
In April 2014, Brampton residents expressed anger over a flyer distributed by Immigration Watch Canada targeting the Sikh community. The flyer, named “The Changing Face of Brampton,” featured contrasting images of white people and Sikhs, alongside a message suggesting that declining percentages of "mainstream Canadians" in Brampton was due to immigration. [51]
A similar incident occurred in September 2016, where the University of Alberta removed racist posters from its campus. The posters, which featured an image of a Sikh man in a yellow turban alongside a derogatory message, were discovered in multiple locations, including the main library. The university promptly addressed the situation and took down all twelve posters that were found.[52]
It was announced during Sikh Heritage Month in 2024 by MP Kamal Khera of the Department of Canadian Heritage, that the Canadian Government will be putting forwards their first ever Anti-Racism Strategy and Canada’s first Action Plan on Hate.[53]
The World Sikh Organization (WSO) is a non-profit organisation and was founded in 1984 in Canada in response to the anti-Sikh violence in India, particularly the events surrounding Operation Blue Star and the 1984 anti-Sikh pogroms.[54] Established by Sikh leaders, it was created to protect and promote the interests of Sikhs globally. [55] [56]
Over the years, the WSO has played a significant role in advocating for Sikh rights, religious freedoms, and combating anti-Sikh hate in Canada.
In the 1990's, WSO was involved in the case of Baltej Singh Dhillon in his fight to wear a turban as a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. [57] [58]
In 2006, WSO acted as legal interveners in the case of Multani v Commission scolaire Marguerite‑Bourgeoys to allow Sikh students to wear Kirpans in public schools. The Supreme Court of Canada made a decision that was unanimous and held that there was no evidence that the kirpan posed a safety risk. [59]
In 2019, during the ongoing debate over Bill 21 in Quebec, the WSO were involved in a legal case World Sikh Organization of Canada v. Attorney General of Québec. It had been concluded that Québec’s Court of Appeal upheld the legislation.[60] [61] [62] Many of the challenges and events following Bill 21 are still being legally addressed by the WSO.[63]