Brampton City Council Bans Protests Near Places Of Worship Days After Khalistani Protesters Attack Hindu Temple

The Brampton city council in Canada has passed a bylaw prohibiting protests outside places of worship.

The move comes less than two weeks after pro-Khalistan protesters attacked a consular event outside the Hindu Sabha temple in the city.

The bylaw motion, introduced by Mayor Patrick Brown, was passed unanimously.

“In this country we protect the right to protest as long as it does not infringe upon another right," Brown noted.

Ahead of the council’s decision, Mayor Brown had expressed concern over the increase in sectarian violence in the city.

He had told the Toronto Star, “I will put forward a motion that will be voted on. I expect it to be unanimously passed, prohibiting protests at places of worship”.

The new bylaw in Brampton was inspired by a similar regulation in Vaughan, a neighbouring municipality, which enacted its own measure in response to protests over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Implemented in June after multiple arrests near a synagogue in Thornhill, Vaughan’s bylaw prohibits “nuisance” protests within 100 metres of places of worship, schools, childcare facilities, and hospitals, with violators facing fines reaching up to $100,000.

On Tuesday, Peel Regional Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah addressed the issue in a social media video, calling for calm.

Duraiappah highlighted that recent protests “have escalated well beyond what is acceptable,” and noted that “a number of agitators intentionally provoked conflict.”

Peel police reported making four arrests following clashes between pro-India and pro-Khalistan factions.

These clashes come amid a downturn in the India-Canada relations that took place after Ottawa sought to “question” Indian diplomatic staff while accusing the country of engaging in covert campaign on Canadian soil.

India has strongly refuted these allegations and accused Canada of harboring separatists and terrorists.

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