OAK BROOK, Ill., July 11 (UPI) -- Marriott had no immediate comment on reports one of its Chicago-area hotels abruptly canceled Sunday's planned conference by a controversial Islamic group.
The Chicago Tribune reported Sunday the U.S. branch of the Muslim activist group Hizb ut-Tahrir was informed by Marriott that its previously scheduled meeting would not take place at the hotel in Oak Brook and its payment was being refunded.
The hotel chain did not immediately comment on the matter, the Tribune said.
The Tribune said critics of the conference claim Hizb ut-Tahrir aims to turn American Muslims against the government and has a decidedly militant fundamentalist bent.
A spokesman for the group denied its purpose was to attack or degrade. "We're talking about Islam the way it should be understood," conference organizer Ayman Hamed told the Tribune.
The cancellation appeared to stem from a tip to hotel management from a Washington group, Responsible for Equality and Liberty, which denied trying to sabotage the event, the Tribune said.
"I'm not looking to have their event canceled," REAL founder Jeffrey Imm told the Tribune. "I wanted them to be aware of who they are so they could have the appropriate security. These hotels have a right to know when there are groups that have been involved with or threaten violence against other people."
