WSO Editor's blog

Sikhs across the world and across Canada are gathering to mark Vaisakhi or the founding of the Khalsa.  Many Canadians may be familiar with the sight of colourful Khalsa Day Parades to mark Vaisakhi but perhaps not so familiar with the significance and history behind the holiday.  We’ll try to provide some background information here.

Although Vaisakhi has traditionally been a harvest festival in Punjab and across South Asia for centuries, the day has a very special significance for Sikhs.  On Vaisakhi Day in 1699, Guru Gobind Singh created the order of the Khalsa.  The Khalsa are those Sikhs who have accepted the Sikh initiation or “khande kee paahul” and commit to live their lives in the spirit of service to all, equality and compassion.   The founding of the Khalsa was a seminal event in Sikh history which gave the Sikh faith its final form. 

In response to Terry Milewski's commentary "Sikhs rally for suicide bomber on Parliament HIll", the World Sikh Organization of Canada has sent a letter of concern to CBC's ombudsman Kirk LaPointe

WSO has been very clear that there is no evidence of extremism in the Canadian Sikh community.  Those who claim otherwise have yet to offer any proof.

UPDATE:  Kulwant Singh died of his injuries on February 14th.

On Sunday February 12, 2012 Indian media reported that 35 year old ‘dreaded terrorist’ Kulwant Singh was in critical condition after having been admitted to hospital with over 50 per cent burns to his body.  Jail officials claim that Kulwant Singh attempted suicide while cooking.  According to the news stories, fellow inmates and jail officials refuse to comment any further on what happened.

Shockingly, this isn’t the first time Kulwant Singh has been admitted to hospital by the police, fighting for his life.  Those who have been following Kulwant Singh’s story know that this alleged suicide attempt is likely just another fabrication in a long list of lies that have been told by the Punjab Police to cover up ongoing illegal detentions and torture. 

By Balpreet Singh

Canada’s Citizenship and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney recently announced that henceforth, Muslim women will be prohibited from covering their faces with the niqab during citizenship ceremonies.  The move was met with general support and the federal opposition parties have also largely avoided commenting on the issue. 

By Balpreet Singh

On this International Human Rights Day, I would like to reflect on the courageous role of human rights defenders. 

I recently had the opportunity to attend the inauguration of the Khalra Centre for Human Rights in New Delhi on November 19^th and 20^th. S. Jaswant Singh Khalra was of course the human rights activist who exposed the illegal cremation of thousands of young Sikhs in Punjab and sacrificed his life in the process.