MAC Condemns "Deeply un-Canadian" Targeting of Convention Speakers by CBSA

The Muslim Association of Canada (MAC) has issued a scathing statement following what it describes as a coordinated and "shocking" effort by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to target and harass international scholars invited to its annual convention.

In an official statement released on May 14, 2026, the organization detailed a series of administrative and personal hurdles placed in front of its guest speakers.

MAC alleges that nearly all international guests invited to this year’s convention—one of the largest Muslim gatherings in the country—were subjected to targeted immigration actions, including the sudden cancellation of visas and Electronic Travel Authorizations (ETAs).

“Not a Coincidence”

According to MAC, the disruptions were not random administrative delays but a deliberate attempt to suppress the voices of Muslim leadership.

The organization reported that ETAs for speakers were held for months or abruptly cancelled just before departure.

In several cases, scholars who did arrive at Toronto Pearson International Airport were subjected to hours of interrogation.

The statement provides a troubling account of the treatment these guests allegedly received at the hands of CBSA officers.

MAC claims that respected scholars were denied water, refused a space to pray, and subjected to "vulgar language" during their detention.

“This was not a series of coincidences,” the statement reads. “This was deliberate. They have been treated to a standard that should never be applied to anyone entering this country.”

Allegations of Outside Pressure

The association also pointed to a broader political context, suggesting that the federal agency’s actions were influenced by outside lobby groups.

MAC alleged that pro-Israeli groups have been pressuring the Government of Canada to target Muslim organizations using "misinformation designed to intimidate, defame, and suppress opposition to oppression and injustice."

MAC characterized the situation as a "profound failure of institutional integrity," arguing that a federal agency should not allow external political pressure to drive its operational decisions.

The result, the organization says, is that Canadian Muslims are effectively being prevented from gathering with their chosen scholars on their own soil.

Broken Promises and Systemic Issues

This incident appears to be part of a long-standing friction between the national Muslim organization and the CBSA.

MAC noted that it has engaged with CBSA leadership in the past regarding the use of "Islamophobic and fringe source material" by officers.

Despite receiving prior commitments that these issues would be addressed, MAC says those promises have not been kept.

“You cannot treat Muslim scholars and leaders with suspicion, hostility, and double standards, while simultaneously claiming that Muslim Canadians are a respected and integrated part of society,” the statement noted, adding that the events of this week have caused “serious and lasting damage” to the relationship between the community and the agency.

Calls for Accountability

In response to these events, MAC has formally called on the Prime Minister’s Office and Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree to launch an immediate investigation into the coordinated targeting of its speakers.

The association is demanding that those responsible for the alleged misconduct at Toronto Pearson International Airport be held accountable.

Furthermore, MAC is urging the government to take concrete steps to ensure the Muslim community is treated with the "dignity, fairness, and respect afforded to every other community in this country."

A Community Reflecting on Justice

The targeting of religious scholars and the disruption of community spaces raise fundamental questions about the state of civil liberties and religious freedom in Canada.

For a community that contributes significantly to the country’s social and economic fabric, such experiences serve as a painful reminder of the work still required to achieve true equity.

The Muslim Association of Canada has indicated it will continue to challenge these actions, maintaining that the convention remains a vital space for Canadian Muslims to engage with global Islamic thought—a right that should not be subject to political interference or discriminatory profiling.