Hizb ut Tahrir Canada, a controversial Islamic activist group, says it’s cancelling its upcoming Khilafah Convention 2025, which was set to happen in Hamilton on Jan. 18.
“This choice was necessitated by circumstances that have been past our affordable management,” the group mentioned on its web site.
The group confronted backlash earlier this month from Hamilton’s mayor, native and nationwide organizations after saying its plan to host the convention in the Ontario metropolis.
The occasion was initially alleged to happen in Mississauga, however was then relocated after a powerful response from Mayor Carolyn Parrish.
In response to the occasion’s webpage, the convention’s function was to debate “eliminating the obstacles which can be delaying” the return of the caliphate — or chief of the Muslim world.
The group isn’t listed as a terrorist entity by the Canadian authorities, however Affiliate Minister of Public Security Rachel Bendayan mentioned in a press release on Monday the federal government is now assessing whether or not the group ought to be added.
In her assertion, on behalf of the Canadian authorities, she mentioned experiences of the convention going forward have been “deeply regarding.”
“Hizb ut-Tahrir has a documented historical past of glorifying violence and selling antisemitism and extremist ideology,” mentioned Bendayan.
She mentioned the group helps “banned terrorist teams reminiscent of Hamas and Hezbollah,” and has celebrated “assaults on harmless civilians, together with Oct. 7.”
“We unequivocally condemn their actions and the holding of such a convention,” learn the assertion.
By Tuesday, the group had introduced the occasion was being cancelled.
The group mentioned in a Jan. 6 assertion that it “categorically rejects the usage of violence,” following backlash from native teams.
It additionally mentioned it solely has one goal, establishing “the resumption of the Islamic lifestyle by the re-establishment of the khilafah (caliphate).”
To do that, it mentioned it promotes Islamic values inside the Muslim group and pushes again towards “the corrupt basis of liberal democracy and the inaccurate ideas that emanate from it.”
Hamilton teams, mayor reply to cancellation
In on-line posts, Hizb ut Tahrir Canada described Israel as a “prison Zionist entity” that must be defeated. One convention matter was alleged to be on how solely the caliphate will “liberate Palestine” and that “all the pieces else is a distraction.”
The Hamilton Jewish Federation (HJF) shared a assertion Tuesday from the The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) that it was “relieved” the convention was cancelled.
“We’ll proceed to induce the Authorities of Canada to ban Hizb ut-Tahrir as an unlawful terrorist group,” learn the assertion, signed by Michelle Inventory with CIJA.
The HJF mentioned earlier this month it “promptly knowledgeable the mayor’s workplace and urged them to reply decisively and swiftly,” when it heard in regards to the occasion.
#HamOnt – Collectively we stopped this divisive and hateful convention. Thank-you to each Hamiltonian who attain out by cellphone, e mail, or social media to share their issues with me and my workplace.
We’ll proceed to face up towards hate in all its kinds. As Mayor, I stay… https://t.co/l3A0SD3L2a
—@AndreaHorwath
On Tuesday, Mayor Andrea Horwath thanked those that reached out to voice their issues in regards to the “divisive and hateful convention.”
She had expressed “vital issues” over the group and its convention and mentioned she had been in direct contact with Hamilton police, who have been “carefully monitoring the state of affairs.”
“There may be completely no place in our metropolis for people or teams spreading messages of division or intolerance,” mentioned Horwath in a press release on Jan. 6.
Hizb ut-Tahrir Canada mentioned then the criticism was “baseless.”
Group banned within the UK
The group has been banned by the U.Ok. authorities from working inside its borders and described as an “antisemitic group” that “actively promotes and encourages terrorism.”
The ban got here into impact within the months after Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 individuals and taking about 250 hostages — 100 of whom stay in Gaza, in keeping with the Israeli authorities. In response, Israel then launched a conflict in Gaza and has killed round 55,000 Palestinians, in keeping with the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics.
Hizb ut Tahrir relies in Lebanon and operates in at the least 32 nations, in keeping with the U.Ok. assertion.
Netherlands-based suppose tank, the Worldwide Centre for Counter-Terrorism, referred to as the ban “extremely problematic” and a “political act.” They mentioned the group is “demonstrably non-violent,” in an article revealed on its web site in January 2024.
