Terry Newman: Youth at Toronto Muslim convention express desire for ‘Jew free’ community

The phrase "Jew free" appears in a cloud bubble submitted by at least one member of a Muslim youth session when asked what kind of community they wanted. The session took place in Toronto at the Muslim Association of Canada (MAC) convention on May, 18, 2026. (Used with permisson). Photo by Melanie Bennett /Juno News

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On May 18 in Toronto, at a Muslim Association of Canada (MAC) convention, a youth session titled “Visionaries of the Ummah: Youth Activism Lab” encouraged high school and university students to consider how they could help revive the ummah — the global community of Muslims united by faith beyond borders. During the session, Canadian-Egyptian activist Khaled Al-Qazzaz praised the founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, and at least one person publicly, likely more, shared their desire that the community they work toward be “Jew free.”

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It’s time for the federal government to designate the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization and bar lobbying groups that promote or praise it.

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The information in this article is based on video, audio and images shared with the National Post by Juno News reporter Melanie Bennett.

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Al-Qazzaz holds a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Toronto. While he spoke as a guest during this session, he is the former executive director of the Canadian Muslim Public Affairs Council.

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Al-Qazzaz also participated in the 2011 Egyptian revolution and later served as a senior aide to Mohamed Morsi, the Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated president of Egypt, from 2012 until Morsi’s removal in a 2013 military coup.

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And there he was last week, speaking to Muslim youth in Toronto about the world they should build here in Canada in 2026.

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Al-Qazzaz opened the session by telling these high-school-aged Muslim students that part of his work involves “understanding the situation for ummah” and how they can be part of its revival, along with how, over the past decade, his think-tank has been analyzing conditions within the ummah and “seeing signs of transition between civilizations.”

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Khaled al-Qazzaz is pictured speaking at a youth session at the Muslim Association of Canada (MAC) convention on May, 18, 2026. Source: Melanie Bennett/Juno News (used with permission).

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He urged the students to dream big, saying, “If we’re not imagining the revival of the ummah, then who will do it?”

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Al-Qazzaz chose an interesting role model to inspire these students. He referenced Saladin (1137–1193), a Muslim leader who united forces in Syria and Egypt, defeated Christians at the Battle of Hattin, recaptured Jerusalem and fought against the Third Crusade.

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Al-Qazzaz then asked for a show of hands: who had been thinking about the revival of this? “Excellent,” he said. “I’m glad we have a few people.”

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Al-Qazzaz went on to reference the Prophet Muhammad, who spoke of a mujaddid — a renewer of the faith who would appear every 100 years and, sometimes through violent jihad, renew the religion by cleansing it of its impurities and restoring its former glory. Al-Qazzaz told the youth that one of them could be the mujaddid, or part of a group of people who will renew the faith.

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Al-Qazzaz asked the students whether they would be “part of the driving force,” or, “God forbid,” among those “taking us back.” He rejected the idea that high-school students are merely “kids,” insisting that once a person reaches physical and mental maturity, they are fully accountable to Allah.