Pro-Palestinian Protesters Deface Maharaja Ranjit Singh Statue in Canada, Outrage in Sikh Community

A video showing masked pro-Palestinian protesters defacing a statue of Maharaja Ranjit Singh at The Great Punjab Business Centre in Malton-Mississauga has sparked outrage across Canada. The incident occurred on September 28 during a protest while Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was attending an event at a nearby banquet hall. The 37-second video, shared widely on social media, captured two masked individuals vandalizing the statue of the iconic Sikh leader, causing deep insult to the Sikh community.

The social media user Leviathan, who shared the video, identified one of the individuals as Hosaam Hamdan, a known protester with a history of defacing culturally significant statues. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Leviathan wrote, “Frequently masked protester Hosaam Hamdan defacing a statue of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in Brampton, a massive insult to the Sikh community as he is the first Maharaja & founder of the Sikh Empire.”

This act of defacement, which took place during a protest meant to highlight pro-Palestinian sentiments in the presence of Prime Minister Trudeau, has raised concerns over the increasing targeting of cultural symbols in Canada.

The video also drew the attention of National Telegraph senior correspondent Daniel Bordman, who shared his thoughts on X: “Jihadists in Brampton, Canada, attack and deface a statue of Ranjit Singh. This isn’t about Israel or Palestine—it’s about the destruction of everything that is not part of the Muslim Brotherhood’s worldview.”

Jihadists in Brampton, Canada attack and deface a statue of Ranjit Singh.
Ranjit Singh was the father of the Sikh Empire, last man to successfully hold Afghanistan and generally loved by all in South Asia. This isn’t about Israel or Palestine, it’s about the destruction of… pic.twitter.com/ZSyWFQNIIr

— Daniel Bordman (@DanielBordmanOG) September 28, 2024 

The Peel Regional Police have been alerted about the incident and are currently investigating, though no official statement has been released.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh, often referred to as the “Lion of Punjab,” was the founder of the Sikh Empire in the early 19th century. He is celebrated for his military brilliance and his ability to defend Punjab from Afghan invasions. Singh’s leadership was marked by religious tolerance, bringing together Sikhs, Hindus, Muslims, and Europeans under one administration.

Born in 1780 in Gujranwala, now in Pakistan, Singh rose to power at a young age and fought his first battle by the age of 10. His reign is often regarded as a golden period of Sikh history, and his legacy remains a source of pride for the Sikh community globally.

As the investigation unfolds, calls for justice continue, with the Sikh community urging authorities to take swift action against those responsible for this offensive act.