Helping Syrian refugees coming to Canada and building an Islamic caliphate are part of the same cause, according to a pro-Shariah speaker at an Islamic conference in Hamilton.

And now Mohawk College, on whose property the event took place, says the group isn’t welcome back.

A YouTube video posted last month shows Mazin Abdul-Adhim delivering a speech entitled “The Truth Behind the Syrian Refugee Crisis” on Nov. 28.

The 40-minute English lecture shows Abdul-Adhim standing at a podium beside the flag and banner of Hizb ut-Tahrir, a global organization that promotes the unification of all Muslim countries as one caliphate — an Islamic government led by a religious authority considered a successor to Mohammed.

The speech begins addressing humanitarian matters such as aid and medical support. But the broader thesis is that much of the current conflict in Iraq and Syria is an attempt to stop Muslims from banding together to form their own Islamic government.

“The society (in Syria) has risen up as a society and says that we want Islam as our way of life,” the well-spoken Abdul-Adhim says, dressed in a checkered shirt. “And the West will not have it and this is what we are seeing.”

He later argues: “We’ve been sitting and not really doing very much for the application of Islam in society ... We’re required to call for something — the full implementation of Islam — we’re not allowed to call for anything else or compromise in any other way.” However, he believes others are “trying to turn us away from our Deen (faith) by making us scared of even talking about the application of Islam.” He describes sharia as “the best system that exists on Earth” — claiming that it ends racism, has better currency and promotes “economic justice.”

According to Facebook, where he has more than 1,500 followers, Abdul-Adhim lives in London, Ont., and “was born in Canada and is originally from Iraq.”

“He has studied various sciences of Shariah for the past 16 years... and specializes in the societal Ahkam of Islam. He has given talks around Canada, the U.S., and the U.K., has been teaching for over 13 years.”

He identifies Mohammed’s arrival in Medina as “the symbol of the establishment of the political authority of Islam ... How did he achieve it? He achieved it by spreading ideas.”

Spreading similar ideas, according to Abdul-Adhim, is integral to solving problems like the conflict in Syria: “The problem is that we don’t understand our own system — the Khilafa (caliphate). And therefore, how do we support the people of Syria? We must send money and help the refugees that are coming here in every way that we can.”

The one-day event was held at the Mohawk Residence and Conference Centre, run by Mohawk College. In both 2010 and 2012, venues in Illinois cancelled their bookings with Hizb ut-Tahrir following controversies over the group’s views.

When the residence received this booking, the school explained, the event was described only as a refugee crisis lecture. The caliphate advocacy wasn’t disclosed. It was also placed under an individual’s name; the organization wasn’t mentioned.

“As a college, we’re setting up scholarships for refugees who settle in the region,” explained Jay Robb, spokesman for Mohawk College. “We’ll also be doing English-language training and helping with job searches.” The booking, as initially described, appeared to fit in well with the college’s refugee outreach.

“Going forward, we will be doing our homework,” Robb said. “Will we be booking this group again? No. Not at all.”