In response to a disturbing increase in public displays supporting terrorist organizations at Canadian protests, a Toronto-based council of imams has taken a proactive step. The Global Imams Council (GIC) has produced a comprehensive guidebook designed to help law enforcement and policymakers quickly identify the flags and symbols of designated Islamic terror groups.
A Visual Reference for a Growing Problem
The guide, titled Symbols of Terror, is available online as a PDF and organizes the emblems by colour for rapid identification. Imam Mohammad Tawhidi, a prominent figure known on social media as the Imam of Peace, explained the necessity of the project. He stated that there was a clear challenge in identifying the different flags seen at rallies, and the guide aims to raise awareness and serve as a practical tool.
We believe that the extremists cannot operate without criticism and the religion needs to be reclaimed from the extremists, Tawhidi said. He emphasized that the GIC is committed to countering those who have hijacked the message of their faith.
Classifying the Threat: From Hezbollah to Samidoun
The guidebook provides clear, concise information on what each flag represents and which terror organization it is associated with. For instance, flags listed under the yellow category include Lebanon-based Hezbollah and its affiliates, as well as groups like the Indian Mujahideen and al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya.
Tawhidi was direct in his assessment of individuals who display such symbols. When someone waves the flag of Hezbollah, calls for a global caliphate and destruction of the Canadian government institutions, rallies against the Canadian Constitution and burns the Canadian flag like Samidoun did, this is a potential terrorist, he stated. He clarified that such individuals share the same ideology as ISIS but may not have had the opportunity to act on their beliefs.
This reference is particularly timely, as Canada formally declared the B.C.-based organization Samidoun a terrorist entity in October 2024, after a process that took nearly a year to revoke its not-for-profit status.
Taking a Stand Against Extremism and Antisemitism
The Global Imams Council has consistently positioned itself against extremism. Tawhidi noted that the GIC is the only Muslim body in the world that condemned Hamas shortly after the October 7, 2023, terror attacks in Israel. The council also regularly denounces anti-Israel activism and has spoken out against the explosion of antisemitism in Canada following those attacks.
It is our religious and national duty and human obligation to counter the enemies of humanity, Tawhidi said. He further argued that the core motivation for many demonstrators is not simply anti-Israel sentiment, but a deeper hatred. These people, they are anti-Israel, but their hatred for Israel is not what brought them to the streets — it’s their hatred of Jews.
By providing this guide, the Global Imams Council aims to equip Canadian authorities with the knowledge needed to better understand and address the public display of terrorist symbolism, framing it as a critical step for national security and social cohesion.
