Criticism mounts against controversial Islamic group that says it plans to host conference in Hamilton

The Canadian branch of an Islamic activist group is facing backlash after announcing its plans to host a conference in Hamilton later this month. 

Hizb ut Tahrir Canada posted on social media this week it will host its Khilafah Conference 2025 on Jan. 18, although the exact location has yet to be announced online.

The purpose of the conference is to discuss "eliminating the obstacles that are delaying" the return of the caliphate — or leader of the Muslim world, the event page said. 

In a statement posted on its website, the group described itself as having one objective, establishing "the resumption of the Islamic way of life through the re-establishment of the khilafah (caliphate)."

To do this, it said it promotes Islamic values within the Muslim community and pushes back against "the corrupt foundation of liberal democracy and the erroneous thoughts that emanate from it." 

It also said it "categorically rejects the use of violence." 

Hizb ut Tahrir did not respond to questions about why it chose Hamilton for its event. 

The conference has raised "significant concerns" for Mayor Andrea Horwath and the community, she said in a statement Monday.

"There is absolutely no place in our city for individuals or groups spreading messages of division or intolerance," said Horwath. 

The Hamilton Anti-Racism Resource Centre said it shared Horwath's "significant concerns" regarding the conference and that the organization also stands against "any rhetoric that promotes hatred." 

Group banned in the U.K. 

Hizb Ut Tahrir Canada called the criticism "false" and "baseless." 

"The accusations linking the party to terrorism, extremism and violent activities are fabrications aimed at tarnishing its reputation and distracting from its call to establish Islam as a comprehensive system of governance and mercy for humanity," its statement said. 

Hizb ut Tahrir is not considered a terrorist entity by the Canadian government. Non-profit group Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center, which focuses on antisemitism education, said on Thursday it was urging the Canadian government to add the group to its official terrorist list.

About a year ago, the U.K. government banned Hizb Ut Tahrir from operating within its borders and defined it as a terrorist organization. In a news release, officials described the group overall as an "antisemitic organization" that "actively promotes and encourages terrorism." 

Hizb ut Tahrir is based in Lebanon and operates in at least 32 countries, the U.K. statement said. 

The International Centre for Counter-Terrorism, a think tank in The Netherlands, was critical of the U.K.'s ban, calling it "highly problematic" and a "political act" as the group is "demonstrably non-violent," in an article published on its website in January 2024. 

The U.K.'s ban of the organization came into effect in the months after Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostage — 100 of whom remain in Gaza, according to the Israeli government. Israel launched a war against Hamas in response and has killed around 55,000 Palestinians, according to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics.

Mississauga 'relieved' conference relocated

Hizb ut Tahrir Canada has described Israel as a "criminal Zionist entity" that needs to be defeated, in online posts. A conference topic will be on how only the caliphate will "liberate Palestine" and that "everything else is a distraction." 

The Hamilton Jewish Federation said in a statement posted to Instagram earlier this week that became aware of Hizb Ut Tahrir's conference plans and "promptly informed the mayor's office and urged them to respond decisively and swiftly." 

Horwath said in her statement she's been in contact with police who are monitoring the situation. 

The city will also not rent out any of its facilities, or grant permits, to any group that "engages or promotes hatred of any form," she said. 

City staff told CBC Hamilton as of Wednesday, no group identifying as Hizb ut Tahrir has requested to use city space. 

The conference was originally supposed to take place in Mississauga, but following a strong response from Mayor Carolyn Parrish, appears to have changed locations to Hamilton. 

Parrish called it a "very extreme group" on social media site X on Sunday, and said Mississauga residents were relieved the conference was no longer happening there.