The recent murder of Sikh separatist activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada has sparked a heated dispute between Canada and India, highlighting the growing issue of assassinations in the modern world. Assassinations have long been a part of politics, but their frequency may be increasing. Rising powers such as India and Saudi Arabia are projecting force abroad and resent Western double standards on state-sponsored killings. Advancements in technology have made it easier for governments to target and strike their enemies with precision, even from great distances. However, the international community has yet to figure out how to respond effectively to these assassinations.
The West’s response to assassinations has been inconsistent. Russia’s assassination of former KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko in Britain in 2006 led to outcry and sanctions. The murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul in 2018 also drew condemnation, but Joe Biden, now President of the United States, has sought to maintain a relationship with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince and de facto ruler, Muhammad bin Salman. India, despite being implicated in Nijjar’s death, may also avoid serious consequences due to its importance as an economic partner and geopolitical counterweight to China.
The moral and legal implications of state-backed killings are complex. While the Bible may praise the Israelite Ehud for killing the Moabite king, it also commands obedience to authority. Assassination generally carries the connotation of perfidy, but states often target prominent foes abroad for various reasons and using different methods. Reliable data on assassinations and their causes are difficult to obtain, but there have been at least 298 reported assassination attempts on national leaders.
In conclusion, the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar has brought attention to the increasing incidence of assassinations in the modern world. Rising powers like India and Saudi Arabia are projecting force abroad and challenging Western double standards on state-sponsored killings. Technology has made it easier for governments to target their enemies with precision. However, the international community has yet to develop a consistent and effective response to these assassinations. The moral and legal implications of state-backed killings are complex, and reliable data on the patterns and causes of assassinations are hard to come by.
