An Islamist group banned in the United Kingdom and Germany has cancelled its conference in Ontario as the federal government considers labelling it a terrorist entity.
Public Safety Minister David McGuinty urged Hizb ut-Tahrir Canada to cancel its Khilafah Conference 2025, scheduled for Jan. 18 in Hamilton, Ont. The minister called the event, which focuses on establishing an Islamic caliphate, “deeply concerning,” in a Jan. 14 statement.
McGuinty said law enforcement agencies, including the RCMP, were “closely monitoring” the planned event, adding that security and intelligence agencies were also assessing whether to list Hizb ut-Tahrir as a terrorist entity under Canadian law.
“Hizb ut-Tahrir has a documented history of glorifying violence and promoting antisemitism and extremist ideology,” said the statement, noting that the group has celebrated “attacks on innocent civilians,” including terrorist group Hamas’ October 2023 assault on Israel. He added that its support for banned terrorist groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah is “entirely contrary to Canadian values of peace, inclusion, and respect for diversity.”
“We unequivocally condemn their activities and the holding of such a conference—and call on the organizers to cancel their booking,” the minister wrote.
Hamas’ attack on Israel resulted in an estimated 1,200 deaths, including seven Canadians and others with Canadian ties. Hundreds were abducted, with dozens still in captivity.
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Hizb ut-Tahrir, whose name translates to “Party of Liberation” in English, was labelled a terrorist organization by the UK government in January 2024, and was previously banned in Germany in 2003.
Conference Cancellation
Hizb ut Tahrir Canada announced the cancellation of its conference on Jan. 14, citing “circumstances that were beyond our reasonable control” without providing further details on the decision.
The Jewish rights advocacy group, Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), said it “welcomes” the news of Hizb ut-Tahrir cancelling its conference, adding that 13,000 Canadians had signed a petition calling on the federal government to prevent the event from taking place.
“This is important progress in keeping Canadians safe,” CIJA Ontario vice-president Michelle Stock said in a Jan. 14 statement. “We are relieved that this conference isn’t happening, but we also know that the fight against extremism cannot stop.”
Stock said the CIJA will continue to urge Ottawa to ban Hizb ut-Tahrir as an illegal terrorist organization, aligning with the UK and Germany.
Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath also thanked residents for expressing concerns about the conference.
“Together, we stopped this divisive and hateful conference,” she said in a Jan. 14 X post.
Hizb ut-Tahrir issued a statement on Jan. 6 rejecting allegations of links to terrorism, extremism, and violent activities. The statement came amid opposition from rights groups and media reports of its earlier plans to hold the 2025 conference in Mississauga, Ont.
Several Jewish institutions, including schools, businesses, and synagogues, have faced gunfire, vandalism, and other violent threats following Hamas’ attack on Israel. These incidents include repeated firebombings targeting a synagogue and a Jewish community centre in Montreal, as well as shootings at a Jewish girls’ school in Toronto.
As part of its efforts to address threats against Jewish communities in Canada, the federal government designated the pro-Palestinian organization Samidoun a terrorist entity under the Criminal Code last October.
