Khurrum Awan is a prominent Canadian lawyer specializing in human rights, civil liberties, and constitutional law, with a focus on combating Islamophobia and discrimination against Muslim communities. He has served as legal counsel for the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), representing the organization in high-profile cases. Awan immigrated to Canada from Pakistan as a child and has built a career advocating for minority rights, including work with the Canadian Muslim Litigation Alliance (CMLA) and earlier roles at Justice Canada. His legal practice is based in Toronto, Ontario, where he operates through his firm or affiliations with human rights organizations. Awan gained significant public attention through his involvement in a 2017 defamation lawsuit against conservative commentator Ezra Levant and Rebel Media on behalf of the NCCM. The suit stemmed from a newspaper ad by Levant accusing the NCCM of ties to terrorism, which Awan argued was defamatory. The case was dismissed by an Ontario court in 2019, with the judge ruling that the statements were not defamatory and that Levant had a valid defense of fair comment. This case highlighted tensions between free speech advocates and anti-hate speech activists in Canada. Awan has also been involved in other litigation related to religious freedom and anti-discrimination efforts. Beyond litigation, Awan is recognized for his contributions to policy discussions on multiculturalism and national security, often criticizing government surveillance practices affecting Muslim Canadians. He has been described as a key figure in Canada's Muslim advocacy networks, though he has faced criticism from conservative circles for his stances on issues like the niqab ban and counter-terrorism policies.