Hizb ut Tahrir Canada has faced a public outcry over plans to resurrect its annual conference, which calls for governments to be overthrown to invoke a Muslim caliphate
The federal government is calling on members of a controversial Islamic group to cancel their conference scheduled for this weekend while Canada’s security and intelligence agencies decide if it should be listed as an official terrorist entity.
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A public outcry from civic leaders and Jewish organizations have attacked plans by Hizb ut Tahrir Canada to resurrect its annual Khilafah Conference, which calls for governments to be overthrown to invoke a Muslim caliphate where everyone lives under Islamic Shariah law.
Ottawa has now added a federal reprimand to the list of concerns over the agenda and ideology of the group, which is a branch of a strict international organization that is already banned in several countries.
“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. We unequivocally condemn their activities and the holding of such a conference — and call on the organizers to cancel their booking.”
“We have been assured that law enforcement agencies, including the RCMP, are monitoring the event closely and that all appropriate Canadian laws, including those pertaining to hate speech, will be enforced. Further, we can confirm that our security and intelligence agencies are currently assessing Hizb it-Tahrir (sic) for listing as a terrorist entity under Canadian law,” the statement continued.
A spokesman from Hizb ut Tahrir Canada could not immediately be reached for comment Monday evening. (The Canadian group does not use a hyphen in its name like the international group.)
The organization previously denied it was a public danger and said it was not involved in terrorist violence.
“Hizb ut Tahrir categorically rejects the use of violence or material means in its methodology. The accusations linking the party to terrorism, extremism and violent activities are fabrications aimed at tarnishing its reputation,” the group’s previous statement said.
The group’s goal is listed as ensuring “Islam encapsulates the world.”
Hamilton officials have similarly decried the conference.
Several major Jewish organizations and antisemitism advocacy groups have called on officials to shut the conference down and some urged the government to list the group a terrorist entity.
The Centre for Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs has been running an online petition asking for government action against the group. The group said Friday more than 10,000 Canadians had signed it.
Neither the ministry of Public Safety nor the minister had responded to requests for more details on their announcement and plans for handling the conference or the terror listing investigation.
The listing of an entity under the terroism act means that the group’s property can be the subject of seizure or forfeiture; freezes the group’s finances and assets and prevents banks and brokerages handling the group’s finances dispose of the property.
It is also a crime to knowingly participate in or contribute to a listed entity’s activities and a terror designation means any prosecution related to a listed entity does not require the Crown to first prove a listed group’s link to terrorist activity. Charitable status may be withdrawn and there could be immigration consequences for a non-citizen’s involvement.
The law allows the government to create a list of official terrorist entities if “satisfied that there are reasonable grounds to believe that the entity has knowingly carried out, attempted to carry out, participated in or facilitated a terrorist activity; or has knowingly acted on behalf of, at the direction of or in association with an entity that has knowingly carried out, attempted to carry out, participated in or facilitated a terrorist activity.”
The statement from McGuinty and Bendayan concluded: “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.”
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