US

‘Muslims Marching Toward Victory’: Global Islamic Caliphate Conference in Chicago Rescheduled After Threat of Protests

Hizb ut Tahrir Global Islamic Caliphate Conference in Chicago Cancelled After Complaints

Source: hizbuttahrir.org

Phone calls and emails warning of protests have forced a Chicago-area club to cancel a conference by a radical Islamic group.

The group in question advocates for a global Islamic caliphate ruled by strict Sharia law. They are also banned in several countries, including Pakistan, where it advocates the government’s overthrow, and Germany.

Yet the U.S. branch of the international Hizb ut-Tahrir (HIZB’-uh tah-HREER’) movement has found a permanent home in America and still plans to hold a conference in the area on June 17. The group claims to reject violence.

Organizers were expecting 1,000 people to attend the event under the title “Revolution: Liberation by Revelation – Muslims Marching Toward Victory.” Topics were to include the motivations and reasons for revolution in Syria.

The Daily Herald reported Wednesday that The Meadows Club in suburban Rolling Meadows pulled out of the event after a deluge of calls and emails. The Herald actually called those who protested the conference “conservatives” without providing evidence to back up the claim.

“The call is not to bring that here to this country or anything of that sort,” Reza Iman, a Chicago area spokesman for Hizb ut-Tahrir America, told The Herald. “The message is for Muslim countries to return to Islamic values.

“Part of it is just having confidence in Islam as a way of life, and that’s a majority of what our work is, whether we discuss problems that are economic, ideological or social. It’s about how to address these problems from the Islamic viewpoint,” he added.

The Herald has more details:

[The conference] caught the attention of conservative commentators and political activists Pamela Geller and Robert Spencer, co-founders of Stop Islamization of America, who launched a campaign against the conference through Spencer’s website, Jihad Watch, and Geller’s blog, Atlas Shrugs.

Minnesota congresswoman and former Republican presidential candidate Michelle Bachmann, speaking at last week’s Conservative Political Action Conference in Rosemont, called on President Barack Obama to “shut down” the conference because of possible terrorist ties.

Hizb ut-Tahrir America held conferences in Oak Lawn in 2009 and Oak Brook in 2011, though not without controversy. Conservative groups have rallied to stop conferences in several states, and organizers have had trouble scheduling events in the Chicago area, Iman said.

The FBI and U.S. Department of Homeland Security did not respond to requests for information about Hizb ut-Tahrir. The group is not on the Secretary of State’s list of designated foreign terrorist organizations.

“I have not seen any evidence they have engaged in violent activity in the U.S.,” said Thomas Mockaitis, a history professor at DePaul University and author of the book, “The ‘New’ Terrorism: Myths and Reality.”

“The label of terrorism is far too often pinned on anybody you don’t like,” he said. “If we start making that the criteria for free speech and assembly, we’re going to have some real issues.”

The Hizb ut-Tahrir movement is not a new initiative, it may just be gaining steam. It was started nearly six decades ago and has been working in the U.S. since the mid-’80s.

Hizb ut Tahrir Global Islamic Caliphate Conference in Chicago Cancelled After Complaints

Author and Middle Eastern TV personality Tareq Al Suwaidan is among those seen in a video promoting the Khilafah Conference that was to be held in the Chicago area this weekend. (Source: YouTube)

However, even many so-called “mainstream” Muslims in the U.S. have rejected the group for its radical ideology, Zaher Sahloul, chairman of the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago, told The Herald.

“They are on the fringes of the political Islamic groups,” Sahloul said. “They are very vocal and they target young Muslims in college (who) are attracted to their ideologies. They tend to disrupt lectures, Friday prayers. Most of the time they are kicked out from mosques.”

The minor setback will not deter the Hizb ut-Tahrir movement in the U.S., Iman said. After all, he explains, they only wish to “discuss their views with the public.” Their conference has been rescheduled for June 17 in the Chicago area, though a venue hasn’t been announced.

“We understand that our ideas are not mainstream, and we created this conference purposefully to discuss our views with the public,” Iman said. “It’s purely intellectual work. And we do understand that there may be some who don’t want that discourse to take place. We are still trying to resolve that issue.”

Well, let’s also take a look at the goals of the group currently posted on its website:

Hizb ut-Tahrir is a political party whose ideology is Islam. Its objective is to resume the Islamic way of life by establishing an Islamic State that executes the systems of Islam and carries its call to the world. Hizb ut-Tahrir has prepared a party culture that includes a host of Islamic rules about life’s matters.

The party calls for Islam in its quality as an intellectual leadership from which emanates the systems that deals with all man’s problems, political, economic, cultural and social among others. Hizb ut-Tahrir is a political party that admits to its membership men and women, and calls all people to Islam and to adopt its concepts and systems. It views people according to the viewpoint of Islam no matter how diverse their nationalities and their schools of thought were.

Hizb ut-Tahrir adopts the interaction with the Ummah in order to reach its objective and it struggles against colonialism in all its forms and attributes in order to liberate the Ummah from its intellectual leadership and to deracinate its cultural, political, military and economic roots from the soil of the Islamic lands. Hizb ut-Tahrir endeavours to change the erroneous thoughts which colonialism has propagated, such as confining Islam to rituals and morals.

Hizb ut-Tahrir America’s trailer for their upcoming Caliphate conference in Chicago features Shaykh al-Zaghby who calls for Muslims to “Rise up to aid and support the call for Khilafah (Caliphate) even if it at the expense of your lives.” The video also shows crowds of people chanting, “The people want Khilafah once again!” Watch it here:

The Blaze previously reported on the movement’s global “Caliphate Conference 2012,” which took place in Austria in March. The Media Research Center posted a translated version of Hizb ut-Tahrir’s promotional video for the conference:


The Associated Press contributed to this report. Featured image courtesy of the British National Party.

This story has been updated with additional information.

Comments (82)

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  • zoro51
    Posted on June 13, 2012 at 1:37pm

    no MURDERING MUSLUMS law will EVER be in america this IS the united states not IRAN you want your HATE laws GO BACK TO IRAN period..

    Report Post » zoro51  
    • PATTY HENRY
      Posted on June 13, 2012 at 8:36pm

      MARCHING TOWARDS VICTORY? REALLY???! IS that what they are now ADMITTING! LIke that Creepy Imam who tried to tell us he’d been in the WTC neighborhood and just wanted to build a nice little “gathering place” for “all people”…so you thugs are MARCHING now, eh? March here.

      Report Post » PATTY HENRY  
  • eyedoc5
    Posted on June 13, 2012 at 1:27pm

    i live in chicago, and would gladly protest, except they would blow me up. i’ll stay home a burn a koran instead

    Report Post »  
    • nwaiting2
      Posted on June 14, 2012 at 10:28am

      Ok I will not get “Religeous ” here. Criticism of Shariah is easy taken out of the realm of “Religion” look at what it calls for has done and will do. I point to destruction of all other forms of government. I refer to the hate and intolerance it not only espouses but enforces with threat and actual violance. It fails n so many levels I couldn’t begin to write. Remember look at deception hate murder it engenders. Look at what it is doing to nations and world. Embrace it ? I think not. It is a n inferior knock off of law written by every culture One can reason the Torah Christianity the Pali Canon but not Shariah it hates impairs is intolerant and stifles and kills all disenters or enslaves.. In short shariah is wrong inttollarent and dangerous It is a pokitical tour de force much more sinister much more effective than Mein Kamph or Das Capital It binds body soul and you have no say . Its flim flam at its lowest.
      ..

      Report Post » nwaiting2  
  • Teabunny
    Posted on June 13, 2012 at 1:23pm

    You should check your archives

    http://www.theblaze.com/stories/global-caliphate-conference-planned-for-austria-next-month/

    Report Post » Teabunny  
  • red_white_blue2
    Posted on June 13, 2012 at 1:23pm

    And my shotgun is ready for their caliphate. I shined her up all pretty like and did some shootin’ over the weekend! I’m ready, Y’all!!

    Report Post » red_white_blue2  
    • Thomas Paine
      Posted on June 13, 2012 at 1:42pm

      @red_white_blue2

      Lee makes a 6 cavity Round Ball Bullet Mold in 32 caliber.
      Fifteen of those 32 caliber balls fit perfectly in a 12guage shot shell wad.
      Used wheel weights make real good cast bullets.

      Report Post » Thomas Paine  
    • BoliverBBucklenutz
      Posted on June 13, 2012 at 2:01pm

      Stuff your shells with pennies, unbelievable what pennies do to mannequins …

      Report Post »  
    • theblazerunner
      Posted on June 13, 2012 at 6:34pm

      i use pennies…nice spread, distance…fairly cheap.

      Report Post » theblazerunner  
    • LT714RET
      Posted on June 14, 2012 at 12:34pm

      Adding willie peter to the pennies or 32 cal rounds makes it fun!

      Report Post » LT714RET  
  • TSUNAMI-22
    Posted on June 13, 2012 at 1:22pm

    ‘Muslims Marching Toward Victory’
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    If it was called “Muslims Marching Towards Underarm Deodorant” maybe there wouldn’t have been any threats of protests?

    Wake up, people. We’re being probed by Islam for weaknesses.

    On the other hand, if we were in a muslim country trying to carry out a “Christians Marching towards Christianity” conference, you all know damn well that before the end of the day there would be numerous suicide bombings and general destruction of life.

    Report Post »  
    • Elena2010
      Posted on June 13, 2012 at 3:13pm

      This is how Christianity was moved fm dominant religion to fraction of society in North Africa and the Middle East when the muslims came storming out of the Hejaz.

      Christians did not expect the Arabs to be violent or as controlling as they became. Christians were killed or forced into islam by starvation.

      Then the muslims discovered Christians w/backbones in Europe and had to turn back in France when Charles Martel gave them what-for.

      Report Post » Elena2010  
  • calyptratus
    Posted on June 13, 2012 at 1:20pm

    First give them a stadium for the conference, second separate them into Sunnis and Shiites, third issue them swords, forth lock the doors

    Report Post » calyptratus  
  • barber2
    Posted on June 13, 2012 at 1:17pm

    Outlawed in Pakistan but allowed in America ? Well, that makes a whole lot of sense . Am really surprised that the Campaigner-in-Chief, you know – Mr. Seal Team One / I Took Out Osama Obama , wouldn’t hit them with one of his drones ?!

    Report Post »  
  • blackyb
    Posted on June 13, 2012 at 1:14pm

    Keep these nasty people at bay. Do not let them keep trying to take over our country. These people are evil and have proven it. Keep stand against this. These people are not fit to even be in this country. They are like a virus. Stamp it out now by refusing to allow it. Send them back to the dunes where they have destroyed every thing in sight. Now you know why they live in sand. They exist by destroying all the good around them. They feed on death and destruction. They are evil. They have no place in this country that is one nation Under God. They made their decisions long ago to go against God. We cannot help them. They do not want the One True God, they want an imitator who imitates and destroys, anthing the opposite of who God is. It is their goal.

    Report Post » blackyb  
  • jackact
    Posted on June 13, 2012 at 1:14pm

    Right.
    Obama only wants to assist the Muslim Brotherhood and there quest for their caliphate in Egypt.
    But evidently not in Chicago?
    Go figure.

    Report Post »  
  • momrules
    Posted on June 13, 2012 at 1:13pm

    How many times must the Muslims tell the world their plans for a worldwide Caliphate before people start believing them?
    America is on their short list and they are making heavy in-roads because they can. They have C.A.I.R., the Muslim Brotherhood, the PC police, assorted other organizations country wide. They are also on every campus and in every prison. And of course they have the President of the United States as an ally.
    Look at Europe, England, Australia and Canada for examples of the Muslim takeover.

    Report Post »  
  • drbage
    Posted on June 13, 2012 at 1:12pm

    Add your comments

    Report Post »  
  • jblovesAmerica
    Posted on June 13, 2012 at 1:11pm

    Let this rats come into the sunlight!!!
    Identify the rats-kill the rats

    Report Post »  
  • Walkabout
    Posted on June 13, 2012 at 1:10pm

    Bad Day. The film & audio would have been useful. If the MSM had not covered it or covered it lightly it would have been another nail in the MSM coffin. The coverage might have cause some politicians to wake up or get a backbone if got no other reason than to get re-elected.

    Egyptian elections are this Saturday. It will be an important day for Egyptians & the rest of us. The Egypt’s Supreme Constitutional Court has some important rulings tomorrow. Let’s hope they go the correct way.

    Report Post »  
    • barber2
      Posted on June 13, 2012 at 1:31pm

      I didn’t see much coverage of the Egyptian men who attacked/ assaulted women in Tahir Square a few days ago. The Media pushes/ leaks the Obama Far Left agenda. They control the news which makes a less than stellar truth of freedom of the press in America. Goebbels would be so pleased.

      Report Post »  
  • liberty1
    Posted on June 13, 2012 at 1:07pm

    i wonder if their going to have some pork on the menu. A few carnitas tacos might go well.

    Report Post » liberty1  
  • suedstate
    Posted on June 13, 2012 at 1:06pm

    Chicago?? Isn’t that where Obummer is now holding a few fundraisers, must be disappointed that this one is being cancelled.

    Report Post »  
  • Mike N
    Posted on June 13, 2012 at 1:05pm

    The goals above, as found on their website, are all of the convincing I need. This is a group which, despite the obvious “softening” of their message, has a goal of assimilating all of humanity, leaving noone on the planet Earth who does not practice Islam.

    Enough said . . . go find your converts someplace else besides America.

    Report Post »  
    • drbage
      Posted on June 13, 2012 at 1:15pm

      Of course, this regime also told us that the Muslim Brotherhood was just a benign group of community organizers. I guess that is why since their assassination of Sadat they were not allowed to exist in Egypt, why they are not allowed in Saudi Arabia, and various other Gulf countries.

      Report Post »  
  • NHwinter
    Posted on June 13, 2012 at 1:04pm

    We all know the Tea Partiers are the real terriorists, not these guys. Gosh, not these guys. Don’t put them on a watch list.

    Grats to all those that sent emails and made phone calls. We actually can make a difference!

    Report Post » NHwinter  
  • Arc
    Posted on June 13, 2012 at 1:04pm

    I’m sure the highjackers of the planes on 9-11 were never considered to be violent by their countrymen

    Unfortunately, the US citizens who perished on that date, were never afforded the opportunity to determine where terrorist violence would show itself

    Fortunately, the United States has seized the opportunity to make such a determination and personally, I have no pity on those who seek to remove Israel and the West from the face of the earth.

    If there is any sympathy at all, it is for the peaceable Muslim’s who have been taken advantage by their fellow countrymen who have resorted to terrorism.

    America MUST protect itself.

    Report Post » Arc  
  • Jenny Lind
    Posted on June 13, 2012 at 1:03pm

    And just why do they want to do it here in America? Aren’t the sandy cities nice enough? Glad you are not coming here, maybe it’s a wise choice to stay the heck away from us.

    Report Post »  
    • RLTW
      Posted on June 13, 2012 at 1:26pm

      They state “The message is for Muslim countries to return to Islamic values.” If this is so why not hold the con in those rat infested countries?

      Report Post »  
  • spirited
    Posted on June 13, 2012 at 1:02pm

    Hizb ut-Tahrir endeavours to change the erroneous thoughts which colonialism has propagated, such as confining Islam to rituals and morals.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Why not just go home?

    “The call is not to bring that here to this country or anything of that sort,” Reza Iman, a Chicago area spokesman for Hizb ut-Tahrir America, told The Herald. “The message is for Muslim countries to return to Islamic values.”

    {[8^O h, sure.

    Report Post » spirited  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on June 13, 2012 at 1:01pm

    When will people understand the true danger these extremist represent, and the chaos they are trying to unleash here in America? What will it take to awaken the US to the threat from within?

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • pamela kay
      Posted on June 14, 2012 at 12:57am

      SNOWLEOPARD, sadly many people have no idea that this is happening because they don’t like to watch the news or discuss politics, let alone educate themselves on things that intefere with their little comfort zones. My biggest fear is that when they finally do, it will be to late.

      Report Post » pamela kay  
  • NOBALONEY
    Posted on June 13, 2012 at 1:01pm

    Maybe Obama can have them hold their meeting at Camp David?

    Report Post » NOBALONEY  
  • pma_guy
    Posted on June 13, 2012 at 1:00pm

    I think the conference should be allowed to take place. With a few of us strategically placed, we could take pictures of many of the islamic future terrorists. Cut the head off the snake.

    Report Post » pma_guy  
  • lisa2994
    Posted on June 13, 2012 at 12:59pm

    Right!!!! How can this be allowed to happen in our country?

    Report Post » lisa2994  
  • TROLLMONGER
    Posted on June 13, 2012 at 12:58pm

    Just another pointless story to promote Becks cult of fear and paranoia.

    Report Post » TROLLMONGER  
    • Mandors
      Posted on June 13, 2012 at 1:04pm

      I thought it was a platform to showcase your redundancy.

      Report Post » Mandors  
    • NHwinter
      Posted on June 13, 2012 at 1:06pm

      Oh my gosh, you made a really funny joke troll.

      Report Post » NHwinter  
    • barber2
      Posted on June 13, 2012 at 1:11pm

      Just another pointless comment to promote the I Hate Beck message from the “ under the bridge ” gang.

      Report Post »  
    • Colette
      Posted on June 13, 2012 at 1:41pm

      How bout you hold that conference in your house Troll?

      Report Post »  
    • RightUnite
      Posted on June 13, 2012 at 3:06pm

      Bauck, Bauck, Bauck…..

      Report Post »  
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