A controversial British imam barred from entering Canada spoke passionately to a gathering of Muslim youths in Toronto Sunday via live video, delivering a message of moderation and social etiquette.

Shaykh Riyadh ul-Haq made no mention of the recent arrests of 17 Toronto-area terror suspects, but rather told the group of young boys and girls that Muslims have a duty to protect oppressed Muslims around the world.

He went on to speak about the injustices around the world while making no mention of the controversy surrounding him.

Ul Haq was barred from attending the conference in person because of accusations he has preached hateful sermons against Jews, Hindus, moderate Muslims and homosexuals.

His speeches prompted some religions and advocacy groups, including the Canadian Jewish Congress, the Muslim Canadian Congress and the gay rights group Egale Canada, to demand the federal government deny ul Haq entry.

"He is free to speak his mind, say what he has to say, but Canada is my home," said Tarek Fatah of the Muslim Canadian Congress.

"I don't want people coming over here who are spewing hate in my name, not only in my name, but against me."

Members of the Islamic Foundation of Toronto said Ul Haq decided not to come because his entry was not guaranteed.

Instead, the imam was forced to speak at the weekend conference through a video feed from London.

About 1,000 students at the Youth Tarbiyah conference sat in separate rooms as they watched and listened to a speech Saturday where the cleric decried defamation, slander and speculation as sins "more serious than adultery" in Islam.

"He got his message through to us, so I don't think it was that big of a deal for him not coming here, but I still say that if he came here, it would have had more of an impact," said student Adam Gilani.

Ul Haq thanked those who have supported him, and said he was "innocent until proven guilty."

The Islamic Foundation, which also runs a private school, is one of the largest mosques in Toronto, serving more than 50,000 Muslims in the Toronto area.

Ul Haq has visited Canada on at least four other occasions, including a speech he gave in front of 15,000 people at the Reviving the Islamic Spirit Conference at Toronto's Rogers Centre last year.

The cleric was scheduled to speak last Sunday at a Montreal Islamic youth conference, but organizers cancelled the appearance over concerns about negative publicity.

In his closing words, ul Haq said he would consider returning to Canada if he was invited by a "reputable, respectable organization."

With files from CTV Toronto's John Musselman