-Parliamentarians, experts, and researchers discuss the dangers of the Muslim Brotherhood’s rhetoric and its impact on societal stability

A scientific seminar organized by TRENDS Research & Advisory at the UK House of Lords emphasized the need to combat extremism as a fundamental step in ensuring security and stability both locally and internationally. The discussion highlighted the importance of correcting extremist ideologies and providing educational, economic, and social alternatives to prevent the spread of radical ideas, especially among youth, who are the primary targets of extremist groups.

Participants in the seminar called for the designation of the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization in the UK, following the example of some European countries that have taken firm measures to counter the threat of extremist groups. They stressed that such a classification would restrict the Brotherhood’s activities and prevent them from accessing public funds or operating under the guise of charities. They warned that leniency on this issue could endanger societies and global stability.

The seminar highlighted that countering extremism requires a comprehensive approach that combines security, intellectual, and technological solutions to ensure a safer and more stable future for all.

The UK House of Lords hosted this seminar, which was the second of its kind in less than two months, under the title: “Strengthening the UK-Middle East and North Africa Partnership in Countering Extremism and Promoting Prosperity.” The event was honorarily sponsored by Lord Walney and attended by a distinguished group of parliamentarians, researchers, and counter-extremism experts.

The seminar was moderated by Lord Walney, who emphasized that extremism poses a global threat that requires a unified international strategy to confront it. Lord Donald Anderson, a member of the House of Lords, delivered a keynote speech, stressing the importance of strengthening cooperation between the UK and the Middle East and North Africa in countering extremism. He also highlighted the key role of research institutions in analyzing and understanding the challenges Western societies face due to the spread of extremist ideologies.

Dialogue and Knowledge

In his keynote address, Dr. Mohammed Al-Ali, CEO of TRENDS Research & Advisory, asserted that international cooperation is essential to countering extremism and promoting values of tolerance. He explained that TRENDS is actively working to dismantle the rhetoric of terrorist groups, particularly the Muslim Brotherhood, through meticulous scientific analysis of the concepts and ideologies of such organizations.

Dr. Al-Ali pointed out that the Muslim Brotherhood serves as the ideological umbrella for terrorist organizations. He highlighted that TRENDS has exposed the falsehoods of the Brotherhood’s arguments through the publication of the “Muslim Brotherhood Encyclopedia,” which consists of 35 books, some of which have been translated into 15 global languages. This initiative aims to provide knowledge to a broad spectrum of researchers and specialists worldwide.

Dr. Al-Ali emphasized that Europe has begun to tighten its oversight of the Brotherhood’s activities but has not yet fully banned them, which calls for a more coordinated and decisive European response. He presented several key recommendations, including mainly: to raise awareness of the dangers of the Muslim Brotherhood’s rhetoric and its impact on societal stability, block and dry up the group’s financial resources to prevent their use in funding extremist activities, and enforce stricter legal measures to limit the organization’s operations within Europe.

Participants

The seminar featured the participation of:

• Sir Liam Fox, Chairman of the UK Abraham Accords Group,
• Lady Olga Maitland, Former Member of the UK Parliament,
• Hannah Baldock, Editor of “Focus on Western Political Islam” magazine,
• Anna Stanley, Researcher at the Middle East Forum
• Tom Tugendhat, Member of the Parliamentary Group for Countering Extremism
• Daniel Kawczynski, Member of the UK Parliament,
• Aviram Belaishe, Head of the Counter-Extremism Project,
• Awad Al-Breiki, Senior Researcher and Head of TRENDS Global Sector,
• Abdulaziz AlShehhi, Senior Researcher and Deputy Head of Research Sector at TRENDS,
• Shama Al-Qutba and Zayed Aldaheri, Researchers at TRENDS

Extremism and Violent Ideologies

Discussions during the seminar focused on how extremist groups, such as the Muslim Brotherhood, exploit frustration and discontent of some societal groups to spread their ideology. They cite Sayyid Qutb’s ideas, which provided justification for violence under the concept of “Takfir” (excommunication). Participants stressed that countering these radical ideas requires an alternative narrative based on hope, opportunities, and dignity, rather than relying solely on security measures.

The Role of the Economy

Sir Liam Fox, Chairman of the UK Abraham Accords Group, emphasized that enhancing economic cooperation can help reduce extremism. He noted that the “Abraham Accords Prosperity Fund,” set to launch in April, will provide merit-based funding for young people from diverse backgrounds, offering them economic opportunities that reduce their vulnerability to extremist recruitment. He explained that the traditional approach to peace processes, which focuses on political elites, has not been effective. Instead, the fund aims to build peace from the ground up by economically empowering youth and fostering cross-border cooperation.

The Drumlanrig Agreement

The seminar featured discussions on the Drumlanrig Agreement, which was intended to be a historic moment for Muslim-Jewish cooperation. The agreement, signed in the presence of King Charles, aimed to promote interfaith understanding but soon faced significant opposition from extremists. Speakers highlighted that some Islamic organizations in the UK exert disproportionate influence over the political landscape, exploiting societal divisions to push extremist agendas, thereby undermining efforts to strengthen social cohesion. They also noted that the Muslim Brotherhood, despite operating in the shadows, continues to exert influence through networks that disrupt genuine efforts to foster peaceful coexistence among communities.

An Encyclopedia Documenting the Muslim Brotherhood’s Activities

TRENDS researchers discussed the “Muslim Brotherhood Encyclopedia,” an extensive 35-volume project documenting the group’s activities and impact on societies. So far, 15 books have been published and translated into English, making them accessible to Western audiences. This initiative aims to raise awareness about the group’s dangers and hidden strategies.

Enforcing Bans on the Muslim Brotherhood

Participants criticized the lack of strict enforcement of bans on the Muslim Brotherhood, noting that some individuals and organizations linked to the group continue to operate freely in the UK despite being designated as terrorist entities. They pointed out that some Brotherhood leaders have attended international events, such as those held in Russia, without facing any legal consequences, raising questions about the British authorities’ commitment to enforcing their own laws effectively.

UK Cooperation with the Middle East and North Africa

The seminar also highlighted the UK’s relations with the Middle East and North Africa, as well as the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, emphasizing that these historical partnerships play a crucial role in regional stability strategies.

Key Recommendations

Participants in the seminar made several recommendations, including:

• Distinguishing between Islam as a religion and Islamism as a political ideology, stressing that this distinction is crucial to preventing the misuse of religion as a cover for spreading extremist ideas.
• Addressing terrorism and extremism as a shared global threat, rather than linking them to a specific religion or nationality, and recognizing them as a danger to all societies.
• Imposing stricter financial and regulatory controls on extremist groups in Europe, particularly in light of public funding received by organizations affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood in the UK, which makes tracking their activities and holding them legally accountable more complex.
• Enhancing transparency regarding these organizations, similar to actions taken by some European countries, to enable governments to implement more decisive measures.
• Adopting a comprehensive strategy for stability, integrating intellectual confrontation, economic reforms, and social policies to ensure an effective fight against extremism.
• Taking urgent action to implement stricter measures against groups that exploit social and political crises to disseminate their extremist ideologies.