An extremist group that a number of nations, including the United Kingdom, have labeled a terrorist entity is set to host its annual Khilafah (Caliphate) Conference on January 18 in Ontario.
Hizb ut-Tahrir, which translates to "Party of Liberation," said the theme of the conference is "eliminating the obstacles that are delaying [the] return" of an Islamic caliphate.
"Is America really so powerful that our Ummah (community) can’t defeat it?" the group wrote in a post on Facebook. "There have been superpower states in the past too, like the Romans and the Persians; yet, they were defeated by the Ummah. Their great cities, like Constantinople, are now Muslim cities."
The post went on to claim that, "the Ummah at those times had the Support of Allah," asking, "what must the Ummah do to get Allah's Support once again? What steps do we need to take to become victorious against today’s Colonialist superpowers?"
"We'll answer these questions at our upcoming Khilafah Conference," it concluded. "Learn what it will take for our Ummah to overcome America, Europe, Russia, China, and others from the position we're in today. If you want to help create real change in our Ummah, then get this critical knowledge by attending, inshaAllah."
The post was accompanied by a video featuring scenes of Muslim conquest.
"At the height of the Uthmani Khilafah, Islamic rule spanned across three continents," a spokesperson for the group said. "Seeing that they could not fight the khilafah directly, the colonialist powers exploited treacherous agents in the Muslim lands to dismantle the khilafah from within, leading to its fall in 1924 in Turkey."
He went on to claim that since then, the Muslim world, the Ummah, has "witnessed nothing short of bloodshed, foreign occupation, invasions, and oppression," but that the West is nonetheless "afraid of the Ummah's latent strength" fuelled by a "love of Allah ... and Islam."
"If this love can be turned into political action," he claimed, "it would lead to the revival of the Khilafah."
He then accused non-Muslim nations of using "fear, ... false ideas, and exaggerations to dishearten Muslims from standing up for the [truth]."
"The colonialists will point to their technology, vast armies, giant economies, and their pervasive influence," he added. "However, none of this 'power' compares to the might of Allah. It doesn't even stand against the strength Allah has given our Ummah."
He recalled how Mohammad "brought all of Arabia under Islam," and the Rashidah caliphate defeated two major empires, pointing out that in both cases, "believers, though small in numbers, repeatedly defeated bigger foes."
"Allah supports those who support his cause," he concluded, "and nothing will stand in the way of his believers."
The conference was initially slated to be held in Mississauga, however reports have indicated that it will now be held in nearby Hamilton.
Mississauga Mayor Carolyn Parrish celebrated the decision in a post on X.
The location of the conference has not been revealed, though prospective attendees were told they'd find out after registering via Eventbrite.
Hizb ut-Tahrir 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."
