An extremist group that a number of nations, including the United Kingdom, have labeled a terrorist entity has cancelled a conference that was set to be held in Ontario later this month.
Hizb ut-Tahrir, which translates to "Party of Liberation," faced immense backlash over its Khilafah (Caliphate) Conference, which was first reported on by the Western Standard.
"As Salaamu 'Alaykum," the group wrote on its website. "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 theme of the conference was "eliminating the obstacles that are delaying [the] return" of an Islamic caliphate.
When people got wind of its existence, backlash ensued. Countless X users pressured public officials in Mississauga and Hamilton — two potential locations — and the Hizb ut-Tahrir itself. The mayors of both towns released statements condemning the group, and the government of Canada followed suit a short time later.
Public Safety Minister David McGuinty also announced that security and intelligence agencies were "currently assessing Hizb ut-Tahrir for listing as a terrorist entity under Canadian law."
The group was founded in East Jerusalem in 1953 by Taqi al-Din al-Nabhani to advocate for a global Islamic caliphate that operates under Sharia Law.
It has been banned in all Arab countries except Lebanon, Yemen, and the United Arab Emirates, as well as most of Central Asia, Indonesia, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Russia, China, Turkey, Germany, and the UK.
The latter's home secretary deemed it "an antisemitic organization that actively promotes and encourages terrorism, including praising and celebrating the appalling 7 October attacks."
