Morning Update: Diaspora groups tell inquiry of foreign intimidation efforts

Good morning, Leaders of diaspora groups told the Foreign Interference Commission yesterday that intimidation from foreign states is a threat to Canadian democracy, and detailed how their communities have been bullied and harassed by hostile foreign states and their proxies in Canada. The commission heard from a panel of Chinese, Sikh, Iranian, Russian and Uyghur-Canadian activists on the opening of nine days of public hearings into foreign-influence operations in the 2019 and 2021 elections - testimony that described threats of verbal and physical abuse and even an alleged murder. Among the activists was Mehmet Tohti, executive director of the Uyghur…