After weeks of pressure from civil society groups and government officials, a conference promoting the idea of installing a global Islamic caliphate has been cancelled.
Hizb ut Tahrir, a group banned as a terrorist entity in the U.K., and Germany were set to host “The Khiliafah” conference to discuss “obstacles” in the way of establishing a despotic theocratic caliphate globally.
The video promoting the event glorified historical Islamic rule and domination. Other terrorist and extremist groups, such as ISIS, have similarly declared the establishment of a worldwide caliphate as their ultimate goal. Some of the speakers at the event have called on Muslims around the world to overthrow their governments and establish a caliphate.
The event was originally set to be hosted in Mississauga but changed its undisclosed location to Hamilton after Mississauga’s mayor responded to community concerns about the conference.
“Hizb ut Tahrir Canada hereby announces, with regret, the cancellation of the Khilafah Conference 2025. This decision was necessitated by circumstances that were beyond our reasonable control,” the group posted on Facebook following federal government push back.
This comes just hours after Public Safety Canada officials released a statement condemning the conference, stating that the RCMP was monitoring it and that the intelligence community was investigating whether it should be a designated terrorist group in Canada.
“Reports of the upcoming Hizb ut-Tahrir (HuT) conference, scheduled for January 18, 2025, in Hamilton, Ontario are deeply concerning. Hizb ut-Tahrir has a documented history of glorifying violence and promoting antisemitism and extremist ideology,” a joint statement from the minister and associate minister of Public Safety said.
“Its celebration of attacks on innocent civilians, including October 7th, and its support for banned terrorist groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah are entirely contrary to Canadian values of peace, inclusion, and respect for diversity,” it said. “We unequivocally condemn their activities and the holding of such a conference – and call on the organizers to cancel their booking.”
The statement said that all appropriate Canadian laws would be enforced, including those pertaining to hate speech.
“Our government is resolute in its efforts to fight antisemitism and extremism in all its forms. We will continue to work with law enforcement and community partners to ensure the safety and security of all Canadians.”
The conference caught the ire of both Muslim and Jewish community groups in Canada. The Global Imams Council celebrated the news that the caliphate conference was cancelled.
“We appreciate the attention given to our concerns and the responsible actions taken by the Canadian authorities,” the Global Imams Council said in a statement on X. “Our commitment remains steadfast in working with Canadian officials and relevant departments to ensure a complete ban/designation of this extremist organization.”
B’nai Brith Canada, a Jewish community group, similarly applauded the cancellation after weeks of advocacy.
“This dangerous event, organized by an extremist group banned in 13 countries, sought to undermine the very values of tolerance, inclusion, and democracy that define Canada,” B’nai Brith said. “Thanks to swift and decisive action, the voices of hate and division will not find a platform here.”
According to the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, its petition to call on Public Safety Canada to stop the pro-terrorist group from propagating its “dangerous agenda” garnered over 13,000 signatures. It said the event cancellation was “important progress” towards keeping Canadians safe, and it continues to push Canada to ban Hizb ut-Tahrir as an illegal terrorist organization.
Goldie Ghamari, an Iranian refugee and Independent Ontario MPP, said more should be done, too, calling for those involved to be deported.
“People who think secular countries like Canada should be turned into an Islamic Caliphate have no place in our society and should be deported, full stop,” she said on X. “Islamofascists are dangerous. Kick them out.”
The group shared its vision for how its theocratic dictatorship would be organized, showing the head of state, or “Khaleefah,” would have ultimate authority and rule through Sharia.
Salman Sima, a Muslim and refugee from Iran, warned Canadians that Sharia, which means law in Arabic, would mean women must be covered and cannot leave their homes without permission from their male “guardians,” as well as the death penalty for LGBT+ people.