By Kezia Royer-Burkett, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Burlington Convention Centre has officially cancelled the Reviving Roots conference, an event organized by the i3 Institute, which was set to take place on February 24, 2025.
The Burlington Convention Centre released a statement explaining their decision, citing concerns over Mohammed Hijab’s history of inflammatory remarks. “Mohammed Hijab has demonstrated a clear and consistent pattern of making derogatory and demeaning statements against Jews, Hindus, and Christians, as well as others,” the statement read. “We believe that this rhetoric and behaviour are inconsistent with the values and principles of respect and coexistence by which the Burlington Convention Centre operates. They also raise human rights and safety concerns.”
Hijab, born in the U.K. to Egyptian parents, is variously described as an activist, influencer, and scholar. He is a prominent speaker with over 1.3 million subscribers on YouTube, where his channel is described as “arguing the case for and educating people about Islam,” and has a significant social media presence. Hijab has sparked controversy with his outspoken views not only in Canada, but other countries as well, including the U.K., India, and Norway. While his supporters argue that he is being unfairly targeted for advocating Palestinian rights, his critics point to instances of inflammatory rhetoric as justification for the event’s cancellation.
Complaints were made to the City of Burlington about Hijab speaking in Burlington; Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) was advised. When asked about their involvement in the matter, they said they were advised of the event, as is typical “of any large-scale events taking place in Halton.”
Furthermore, Constable Ryan Anderson said, “Our priority is ensuring public safety, the police role is limited to considerations of operational planning and to assess any potential safety concerns. The HRPS was not directly involved in the decision that led to the cancellation of the event.”
“We do not condone or support hate speech or any rhetoric that promotes division, hate, or violence, whether religious, racial, gender-based, or otherwise at this or any other event taking place in the City,” said Mayor Meed Ward. “These types of statements and rhetoric are not welcome in Burlington.”
However, the decision has been met with significant backlash from Muslim organizations and community leaders who believe the cancellation reflects a troubling pattern of silencing pro-Palestinian voices. A representative from the Muslim Advisory Council of Canada, an organization advocating against anti-Muslim hate, criticized the lack of consultation with local Muslim groups before the decision was made.
“It’s really surprising that the Convention Centre would cancel an event like this,” the representative stated. “They don’t cancel other speakers at their venue. Why was there no due diligence? Why didn’t they reach out to us or any other local Muslim organizations for consultation before making this decision?”
The representative further linked the cancellation to broader efforts to suppress Palestinian advocacy. “Anybody that speaks up for the human rights of Palestinians is getting silenced. People are losing their jobs or being reprimanded for speaking up. This is a clear example of the Zionist lobby digging their heels into something they had no business interfering in.”
Burlington Local-News.ca reached out to the Halton Islamic Association and did not receive a response before the article was published.
The i3 Institute, a non-profit organization focused on Islamic education and youth development, expressed disappointment over the cancellation. In a statement, they announced their intent to seek legal counsel. “We regret to inform you that the Reviving Roots Conference is officially cancelled, as the Burlington Convention Centre has reneged on their contractual agreement. We reserve the right to pursue this matter legally. All registrants will be fully refunded.”
The Burlington Convention Centre emphasized that their decision was made after consulting with the Global Imams Council (GIC), a non-local organization. The GIC reportedly expressed concerns about Hijab’s participation, which influenced the Convention Centre’s final decision.
Halton Region has a diverse population, with approximately 10% of residents identifying as Muslim. Many local Muslim leaders argue that decisions impacting their community should involve meaningful engagement with those affected.
Despite the cancellation, the Muslim Advisory Council of Canada remains resolute in addressing what they view as a pattern of exclusion and Islamophobia. “Our community is resilient, and we don’t stand down to policing and silencing Muslim voices,” the representative said. “We will be writing to the mayor, the town council, and the Burlington Convention Centre to demand answers. This will not go unnoticed.”
Media reports from the U.K., where Hijab is based, and from India describe Hijab’s incitement of hatred in Leicester against Hindus, and anti-semitic behaviour in a Jewish neighbourhood in London. Videos can also be found online where Hijab talks about his Islamic views on sex (“Pedophilia is very relative,” he remarks, saying that sex with minors is acceptable in certain situations where “no harm” would be done), that there is no evidence for Hamas killing the elderly or children in the Oct. 7 attacks (in an interview with Piers Morgan). In a YouTube short, Hijab describes the “LGBT community” as a “parasite” that will be an advantage to Muslims because it will destroy Western civilization from within. Hijab has sued a British magazine for defamation after an article claimed that he had aggravated racial tensions in Leicester and demanded an apology from a Norwegian MP who called him antisemitic, misogynistic, and homophobic.
As the controversy unfolds, Burlington finds itself at the centre of a larger conversation about free speech, religious tolerance, and the challenges of balancing community concerns with inclusivity. Whether the event’s cancellation was a necessary measure against hate speech or an unjust suppression of a pro-Palestine Muslim speaker remains a topic of fierce debate.
