Islamist group cancels caliphate conference, opts to go underground

The Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir has canceled its annual conference in Canada following public backlash that thrust the organization into the spotlight.

Hizb ut-Tahrir Canada, a controversial group advocating for the overthrow of sovereign governments worldwide to establish an Islamic caliphate, had planned to hold a conference in the Mississauga area this Saturday, January 18.

However, after Western Standard journalist Jarryd Jager publicly exposed the event on January 2, public outcry forced the organizers to cancel.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk also amplified awareness of the event by retweeting the news in apparent disbelief, questioning whether the situation was real.

When other prominent accounts, such as Dr. Maalouf, shared the news, a social media campaign called for the event’s cancellation and for the group to be banned in Canada.

Hizb ut-Tahrir has found a haven in Canada, as the organization has not been classified as a criminal or terrorist entity within the country. In contrast, nations such as China, the United Kingdom, India, and Germany have banned the group, designating it a terrorist organization.

In these countries, which host significant Sunni Muslim populations, such ideologies could potentially escalate into civil conflict.

The group’s intended goals for the canceled conference included mobilizing supporters, fundraising, and engaging with community leaders within the Sunni Islamist network in Canada and abroad to discuss next steps toward establishing a caliphate.