Baku: An international conference titled 'June 1984, Amritsar Events: India's Transnational Repression Against Ethnic Minorities in the Context of Genocide,' organized by the Baku Initiative Group (BIG), commenced in Azerbaijan on June 3. This event marks a significant gathering aiming to address the systemic persecution and repression faced by ethnic and religious minorities, with a focus on the Sikh and Dalit communities.
According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, representatives of the Dalit community are participating for the first time in events held in Azerbaijan. The conference brings together prominent Sikh representatives from countries including Canada, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Australia, and the United States. It also includes heads of think tanks, experts on human rights and ethnic minority issues, and individuals who have directly experienced repression, discrimination, and persecution.
The conference is set to explore strategies to keep the issue of transnational repression and systemic persecution by the Indian government against ethnic and religious minorities consistently on the agenda of international organizations. It aims to strengthen coordinated cooperation among affected diaspora groups, enhance shared legal protection mechanisms against transnational targeting, and facilitate the exchange of views on joint action within international platforms.
Additionally, the event will deliberate on calls for an international legal assessment of the June 1984 Amritsar events and the reported violence against the Sikh community, which resulted in significant civilian casualties. Discussions will also cover India's obligations under international frameworks concerning minority rights.
The conference will further address the 1984 operation at the Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) in Amritsar, described by various sources as a state-led act impacting the Sikh community's religious and cultural heritage. Reports estimate up to 8,000 civilian deaths in Amritsar and surrounding areas during this operation.
A joint report titled "Beyond Borders: India's Transnational Repression against the Sikh Diaspora," developed in March by the Baku Initiative Group and the Sikh Federation International, is highlighted at the conference. The report presents facts regarding the Indian government's policy against diaspora representatives living abroad and the 1984 Amritsar events.