-A global press conference broadcast by CPAC television emphasizes the role of knowledge in countering extremism and promoting coexistence.
-Parliamentary Forum emphasizes the importance of intellectual and religious partnerships in building safe and peaceful societies.
The Canadian capital, Ottawa, witnessed an exceptional event hosted by the Canadian Parliament and Senate, during which TRENDS Research & Advisory, in cooperation with the Global Imams Council and the Senate, held an international press conference followed by a high-level parliamentary forum on peace and security.
The event took place on the final day of the TRENDS Research Tour to Canada, at the invitation of prominent Canadian MP Shuvaloy Majumdar and Senator Leo Housakos, and served as an intellectual platform that addressed pivotal issues, most notably the dismantling of the ideology of the Muslim Brotherhood and the highlighting of the Abraham Accords as a model for realistic peace in the Middle East.
Strategic Partnership
The events began with a joint press conference, where Imam Mohammad Tawhidi, Advisor on Counter-Extremism and Terrorism Affairs at TRENDS Research & Advisory and a governing member of the Global Imams Council in Canada, spoke alongside researcher Shamsa Arif Al-Qubaisi from TRENDS Research & Advisory. Imam Tawhidi described the relationship between TRENDS and the Global Imams Council as “one of the most constructive and dynamic partnerships,” emphasizing that their cooperation has gone beyond traditional frameworks. He noted that the memorandum of understanding signed in mid-2024 was preceded by joint participation in major international forums, including the World Economic Forum and the European Parliament.
Tawhidi also praised the Emirati model, stating that “the UAE has proven to the world what can be achieved when a nation chooses dialogue and tolerance instead of isolation,” and noting that Emirati values intersect organically with Canadian values rooted in pluralism and justice. He further highlighted the importance of the event’s timing, which coincided with the Canadian Prime Minister’s visit to the UAE.
Researcher Shamsa Al-Qubaisi delivered a presentation featuring data that reflected TRENDS’ research leadership, highlighting the publication of more than 1,000 research papers and 40 books, as well as the signing of over 300 international agreements, including partnerships with global institutions such as Microsoft and the University of Cambridge. She explained that the center’s physical and virtual offices underscore TRENDS’s commitment to providing a deep understanding of global issues.
Parliamentary Forum: Confronting Extremism
Following the press conference, the delegations moved to the Canadian Senate for the Parliamentary Forum on Promoting Peaceful Coexistence and Combating Extremism, held under the theme Participatory and Applied Visions. The forum was distinguished by its high-level attendance, including a delegation from TRENDS Research and Advisory, represented by its virtual office in Canada and led by its CEO, Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali.
Imam Mohammed Al-Tawhidi led the Global Imams Council delegation. Attendees also included Senator Leonidas Housakos and several Members of Parliament—Shuvaloy Majumdar, Melissa Lantsman, Anthony Housefather, and Greg Fergus—along with diplomats and Richard Fadden, the former Director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service.
Prominent religious leaders were likewise present, among them Imams Hassan Ismail Tarab and Mohammad Tawhidi, Rabbi Chaim Mendelsohn, and Father Raymond Joseph de Souza. From the think-tank and policy community, participants included international lawyer Irwin Cotler, Safe Canada CEO Cheryl Saberia, Macdonald-Laurier Institute Director Brian Crowley, and esteemed journalist Steve Paikin, as well as a select group of researchers, directors, and consultants.
Renowned journalist Steve Paikin moderated the sessions. Senator Housakos opened the forum with a speech emphasizing that parliaments are not merely legislative arenas but constitute “the first line of defense” against security threats and extremist ideologies.
In his keynote address, Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali stressed that global peace cannot be achieved through goodwill alone; instead, it requires courage and moral clarity in confronting extremist ideologies, foremost among them the ideology of the Muslim Brotherhood, “which forms the foundation of extremist organizations.”
Dr. Al-Ali unveiled a new strategic research initiative—the Encyclopedia of the Muslim Brotherhood (35 volumes)—and announced that upcoming volumes will document “the damage the group has inflicted on Canada over the past 60 years.” He also highlighted the Gulf states’ success in dismantling the group’s networks, noting that the UAE’s vision for peace—embodied in the Abrahamic Family House and the Abraham Accords—aligns closely with Canadian values.
Dr. Al-Ali concluded his remarks by outlining five ways for cooperation with Canadian institutions, focusing on countering extremism with scientific evidence, supporting moderate religious leadership, and promoting the Abraham Accords. He expressed his gratitude to the ”Global Imams Council” and Imam Muhammad Tawhidi, describing them as trusted partners in fostering moderation and peace.
Deconstructing the Brotherhood Discourse
The first session was dedicated to examining “Muslim Brotherhood Extremism and Its Repercussions on Canada.”During this session, Dr. Wael Saleh, Director of the TRENDS Virtual Office in Canada, delivered a thoughtful intellectual contribution grounded in Austin’s Speech Act Theory. He explained that the Brotherhood’s discourse generates violence by granting it symbolic legitimacy.
Dr. Saleh emphasized that Islamism is an anti-modern project and that the Brotherhood’s vision of the state is incompatible with the principles of citizenship, warning that the group deliberately targets non-ideological Muslims.
Dr. Saleh presented three key approaches: establishing an ethical framework to prevent the “whitewashing of violence,” amplifying the voices of enlightened Muslims, and exposing the geopolitical manipulation inherent in Islamist movements.
Researcher Badriya Al-Riyami presented an English-language paper addressing the contradictions between the ideology of the Muslim Brotherhood and the principles upheld by the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity and the Abraham Accords. She explained how the group has consistently rejected peace initiatives, dismissing them as “conspiracies.” Her paper cited Yusuf al-Qaradawi’s statements to illustrate the group’s exclusionary nature, rooted in conflict and domination.
Diplomacy, the Abraham Accords, and Research
The second session focused on “The Abraham Accords: A New Peace Model,” exploring the economic and security opportunities arising from the agreements and assessing how Canada might benefit from them.
In the session’s second presentation, researcher Shamsa Al-Qubaisi highlighted the Canadian dimension of TRENDS’ work, emphasizing that the center’s objective is “not symbolic but practical.” She outlined expanding research collaborations with Canadian institutions, publishing studies on educational policy and digital data analysis, and strengthening partnerships with the Universities of Montreal and Carleton.
Parliamentary and Community Voices
The session witnessed broad engagement from Canadian parliamentarians. MPs Melissa Lantsman and Anthony Housefather emphasized that the Abraham Accords represent a historic opportunity for Canada to assume a greater role in the Middle East. Cheryl Saberia and Brian Crowley contributed insights on translating the principles of the Accords into policies that advance national security. Zul Qasmali, representing the Aga Khan Council, concluded by underscoring the role of civil society in transforming the value of tolerance into a lived daily practice
Recognition and Appreciation
At the conclusion of the forum’s proceedings, and under the dome of the Canadian Parliament in Ottawa, the Parliamentary Forum for Peace and Security presented an honorary award to Dr. Mohammed Al-Ali, CEO of TRENDS Research & Advisory. The award recognized his exceptional leadership in advancing global understanding through research, TRENDS’ vision-driven approach to countering extremism, and his promotion of tolerance and international cooperation.
The award also described TRENDS as “a global beacon of knowledge-making in the Middle East and the world.”
The forum concluded with an extended question-and-answer session that reflected growing Canadian interest in understanding the region and the challenges posed by political Islam. At the close of the event, Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali was honored with the “Personality of the Year” award in recognition of his leadership of TRENDS as a global research institution in countering extremism.
