Baku Hosts International Conference on Repression of Sikhs and Minorities in India
Baku, The Gulf Observer: An international conference addressing the Indian government’s policies toward ethnic minorities has commenced in Baku, organized by the Baku Initiative Group (BIG). The event, titled “Racism and Violence Against Sikhs and Other Minorities in India: The Reality on the Ground,” is being held in Azerbaijan for the first time.
The conference features high-level participants, including Ramesh Singh Arora, Minister for Human Rights and Minorities of Pakistan’s Punjab province, officials from various countries, prominent representatives of the Sikh community from Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States, as well as think tank leaders, human rights academics, and individuals directly affected by India’s discriminatory policies.
Discussions will focus on systemic racial discrimination, repression, and violence against Sikhs and other minority communities in India, including alleged violations of international treaties such as the UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, and the Convention Against Torture. The conference will also examine the role of international organizations in addressing these issues, promoting investigations into extrajudicial killings, and documenting human rights violations through UN special rapporteurs.
The event began with an exhibition of photographs illustrating repressive measures and mass killings targeting the Sikh community. Organizers highlighted that between 1980 and 1990, thousands of Sikhs in Punjab were killed, abducted, or executed without trial on fabricated charges. Currently, Sikh activists advocating for their rights face arrests on allegations of “separatism” or “espionage,” and police raids in Punjab continue to intensify. Attacks against Sikh activists abroad have also been reported, with authorities in Canada and the United States attributing some incidents to Indian intelligence services.
Participants emphasized the critical role of local and international NGOs, as well as academic circles, in producing reports, legal opinions, and recommendations that can influence global policy and decision-making regarding human rights violations in India.
