Martina Navratilova furious over controversial Islamic group holding 'unacceptable' event to promote Sharia law in Canada
Tennis legend Martina Navratilova has publicly condemned the upcoming conference by the Islamist organization Hizb ut-Tahrir in Mississauga, Ontario. Scheduled for January 18, 2025, the event aims to advocate for the re-establishment of an Islamic caliphate and the enforcement of Sharia law.
Founded in 1953, Hizb ut-Tahrir, meaning "Party of Liberation," operates under strict Sharia law and has been banned in multiple countries, including the United Kingdom, Germany, Egypt, India, China, Indonesia, Russia, and Turkey, for its promotion of terrorism. Despite its notoriety, the group remains active in Canada, sparking debates about the country's lenient stance towards such organizations.
On January 8, 2025, Navratilova, known for her advocacy of women's rights, took to X (formerly Twitter) to express her strong disapproval, labeling the event as "unacceptable."
"Unacceptable. Sharia law must be unacceptable everywhere that is at all evolved…" Navratilova wrote.
The timing of the controversy is particularly significant, given the recent resignation of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. His administration's handling of terrorism-related issues has come under intense scrutiny, especially in light of Hizb ut-Tahrir's activities.
Last year's cancellation of the group's conference in the UK, following its designation as a terrorist organization, contrasts sharply with Canada's current position, drawing widespread criticism.
Martina Navratilova condemns Pakistani national for citing 'Sharia Law' in defense of sexual assault of a minor in Britain
Martina Navratilova has voiced her anger over a resurfaced video featuring a Pakistani man attempting to justify his sexual harassment of a 14-year-old girl in the UK.
In the undated footage, the man defends his actions by claiming that marrying a 14-year-old is not a crime in his country and says he is unaware of UK laws.
"I am new to this country, I am not aware of the laws here," the Pakistani national could be heard saying in the video. "In Muslim countries, one can marry 14-year-old girls. There is a country’s law and then there is Sharia which overrides those laws. I follow Sharia law."
The 18-time Grand Slam singles champion took to X (formerly Twitter) to express her disgust, writing:
"Culture my a**. Just because something is cultural doesn’t make it right."
In other news, Navratilova condemned the Taliban's ban on Afghan women studying medicine, introduced in December 2024 by leader Haibatullah Akhundzada. She called the decision "evil," strongly criticizing the regime's oppressive policies.