(Middle East Eye) Billed as one of the biggest Muslim events in North America, the Reviving the Islamic Spirit (RIS) conference has attracted some high-profile names in recent years, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as well as Pakistan’s Imran Khan.
So when thousands of Muslims from across the globe gathered in Toronto over the weekend for the annual convention — where lectures and panel discussions touch on spirituality, theology and Islamic ethics — the attendees were expecting to be met by figures who embodied those values.
Instead, the organisers decided to host Doug Ford, the controversial premier of Ontario province and his Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario, individuals many said contradicted everything the event stands for.
