As India and Canada seek to deepen ties, a Canadian human rights group has urged the Canadian government not to overlook systematic atrocities against Muslims, particularly in Uttar Pradesh, including extrajudicial killings, police violence and torture, and punitive demolitions, while calling for targeted sanctions against eight Indian officials, including Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
In a confidential joint civil society submission to Global Affairs Canada’s Sanctions Bureau on Monday, Justice for All Canada and the Canadian Forum for Human Rights and Democracy in India (CFHRDI) called for action under Canada’s existing sanctions framework, including the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act and the Special Economic Measures Act.
The groups alleged that the officials named in the submission, including Yogi Adityanath and other senior serving and former police officials, are linked to a wider pattern of abuses carried out with state support and under conditions of impunity.
Uttar Pradesh has remained a focal point of international concern over the treatment of Muslims since Adityanath came to power, as theups have documented allegations of police violence, extrajudicial killings, punitive demolitions, and mass arrests. More recent measures affecting university students and campuses have also fuelled concerns over restrictions on dissent and minority rights.
“Canada cannot deepen trade ties with India while looking away from credible evidence of state-backed abuses against Muslims,” said Taha Ghayyur, executive director of Justice For All Canada.
He argued that Canadian sanctions remain among the few avenues available when domestic accountability mechanisms have failed.
The submission cites earlier warnings and findings by international bodies and rights organisations, including the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, United Nations human rights experts, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and the Panel of Independent International Experts.
The organisations have called on Canadian MPs and federal officials to meet affected communities and civil society groups, independently review the evidence submitted, and place human rights and accountability at the centre of Canada’s expanding engagement with New Delhi.
The call follows a separate appeal last week by more than 40 Canadian civil society, human rights, labour, and faith-based organisations urging Canada’s public safety minister to deny entry to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat over similar allegations.