ISYF
| International Sikh Youth Federation | |
|---|---|
| Active region(s) | India |
| Ideology | Khalistan |
| Status | Under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act designated as terrorist organisation by the Government of India |
The International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF), formed in response to the 'illegal' Indian occupation of Punjab, is a formerly proscribed organisation in the UK. The goal of the ISYF is to establish an independent homeland for the Sikhs of India in Khalistan in light of decades of oppression, genocidal campaigns, censorship, and human rights abuses.
In March 2016 the UK government accepted that the International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) did not meet that statutory definition of a proscribed organisation and therefore an order to lift the ban on the ISYF was placed in Parliament. Both the House of Commons and Lords debated this issue and unanimously agreed to lift the ban.
This was a historic decision was the ISYF were the first and only organisation to be deproscribed by the choice of the Government. Many Sikhs around the world saw this as a major victory and vindication of the struggle for Sikh Independence and celebrate the exposing of Indian state oppression and mass human rights abuses from 1984 to 1995.
Sikhs in Canada, the United States, and India will now look to follow up and request the bans to be lifted in those countries following the decision by the UK government, who said they would be sharing their decision and intelligence with other foreign governments.
It is banned under Japanese,British,Indian,Canadian and Americanterrorism legislation.
In February 2001, the United Kingdom banned twenty-one groups, including the ISYF, under a new terrorism law.Removed for the list in 2016.
In 2002, the ISYF was banned in India.
In June 2003, Canada banned the organisation.
The ISYF was added to the US Treasury Department terrorism list on June 27, 2002. In April 2004, the United States added four organisations, including the ISYF, to its terror list, allowing the US to deny entry (and to deport) any of its members.
The Vancouver Sun reported in February 2008 that Singhs were campaigning to have both the Babbar Khalsa and International Sikh Youth Federation delisted as terrorist organisations. The article went on to state that the Public Safety Minister had never been approached by anyone lobbying to delist the banned groups and said, "the decision to list organisations such as Babbar Khalsa, Babbar Khalsa International and the International Sikh Youth Federation as terrorist entities under the Criminal Code is intended to protect Canada and Canadians from terrorism".
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