SFJ Plants Fake Khalistan Embassy in Surrey Gurdwara

In a quiet corner of Surrey, British Columbia, what was once a respected place of worship and community service has become the backdrop for a bold provocation. A group of extremists affiliated with the US-based organization Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) has reportedly established a so-called "Embassy of Khalistan" within the premises of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara. The move has sparked outrage among Sikh families, legal observers, and Indian authorities alike, as the act is seen as a grotesque distortion of Sikh heritage and an exploitation of sacred space to advance a separatist agenda.

The “embassy,” set up in a community centre building that forms part of the gurdwara compound, is not a diplomatic facility, nor is it sanctioned by any recognized state. It is, rather, a symbolic provocation by SFJ, a group banned under India’s Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and widely viewed as a fringe element even within the global Sikh diaspora. While SFJ continues to operate openly in North America under the guise of activism, its tactics have become increasingly theatrical and inflammatory. From orchestrating mock referendums on Khalistan across Canada and the UK to openly threatening Indian diplomats, SFJ's actions consistently blur the line between political speech and extremist agitation.

The installation of an “embassy” within a gurdwara takes this to an unprecedented level. For us Sikhs, the gurdwara is a sanctuary of faith, a refuge for spiritual reflection, and a sacred hub of seva and communal unity. By converting part of this sacred space into a stage for secessionist propaganda, SFJ is not just making a political statement. It is desecrating a deeply revered institution. Images from the site show Khalistan flags, portraits of separatist figures, and signage declaring the legitimacy of a non-existent nation. The invocation of Sikh martyrdom to justify these theatrics is particularly jarring to older community members, who remember that era as a time of deep tragedy brought about by separatist violence, not something to glorify or revive.

This gurdwara, notably, was led until recently by Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a prominent Khalistan proponent who was gunned down in June 2023 in a case that sparked a diplomatic standoff between India and Canada. Nijjar, who was designated a terrorist by India, had turned the gurdwara into a nerve center of SFJ operations. Since his death, tensions have only escalated, with SFJ doubling down on its activities in Canada and announcing Nijjar as the "President of Khalistan."

SFJ is not engaged in peaceful advocacy. Instead, it is actively fueling hatred and division, misusing Sikh symbols and institutions as instruments of sedition. The Government of India has repeatedly and unequivocally demanded that both Canada and the United States designate SFJ as a terrorist organization, citing concrete intelligence inputs, threats to Indian diplomatic personnel, and persistent incitement to violence through organized campaigns and public declarations.

What remains is a legal and diplomatic grey zone that SFJ exploits ruthlessly. The group is erecting embassies without states, holding elections for imaginary nations, and now, redefining our sacred spaces as outposts of a separatist fantasy.

For the Sikh community in Surrey and beyond, the issue cuts deep. Our faith’s foundational values, such as Seva (selfless service), Sarbat Da Bhala (welfare of all), and unity through humility, are being warped into political slogans. The sacrifices made by our gurus and martyrs were for dharma, for justice, for coexistence. They were not for drawing borders or erecting fake consulates. The spiritual weight of the gurudwara, a place that once held memorials for victims of the Christchurch mosque shooting and honored the Indigenous children lost in Canada’s residential school system, is now overshadowed by a flag of division.

Local leaders and elected officials must now grapple with difficult questions. Can extremist political activities masquerade as religious freedom? Should places of worship be allowed to function as platforms for separatist provocation? More urgently, will municipal and provincial authorities step in to ensure that our gurdwaras return to their foundational role as places of prayer, not propaganda?

The establishment of a Khalistan "embassy" inside a Sikh temple is not just a political stunt. It is a desecration. It misuses the symbols of our faith, weaponizes our history, and endangers the social fabric of multicultural cities like Surrey. As SFJ continues to export its ideology into diasporic spaces, what is at stake is not only national security for India but the spiritual sanctity of Sikhism itself.