Today's Edition
By Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali
In a world marked by accelerating political and intellectual transformations and increasingly complex paths of cross-border extremism, the need has emerged for new tools that go beyond traditional security solutions.
In this context, the visit of the TRENDS Research & Advisory delegation to Canada was not a routine trip or a ceremonial meeting, but rather a natural continuation of the centre’s long-standing intellectual mission to counter extremism, dismantle the threats posed by the Muslim Brotherhood, and expose its concealed ideological agenda.
At its core, this tour was an expression of what can today be called “thought diplomacy;” that is, the strategic use of knowledge, dialogue, and research partnerships as instruments to confront the gravest challenges facing modern societies.
The Canadian tour offered an advanced model for expanding TRENDS’ intellectual role, combining research dialogue on one hand and building bridges of cooperation in artificial intelligence, scientific research, and training on the other. This combination is essential in a world where extremism itself has gone digital, adapting to technology and feeding on it. Against this backdrop, the meetings held by the delegation with parliamentarians, ministers, officials, and experts gained special importance, as they created a shared space to address today’s most pressing global issues, foremost among them combating terrorism and safeguarding coexistence.
TRENDS’ participation in the Parliamentary Forum in Ontario embodied the spirit of this approach. Discussions on implementing the Document on Human Fraternity, the Abraham Accords, and strategies to confront extremism were not abstract or theoretical but focused on translating principles into legislation, ideas into policies, and recommendations into tangible action on the ground. The Document on Human Fraternity, for example, reflects a deep conviction that peace is not achieved through slogans but through the steady building of a shared culture and the entrenchment of the values of justice and sustainable development.
On the applied knowledge side, the delegation’s meetings with Mila - Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute opened new horizons for integrating technology with scientific research. In an era when arenas of extremism have become digital platforms, counter-efforts can no longer remain conventional. Hence, the emphasis is on empowering young researchers with the skills to use AI tools for monitoring trends, analysing data, and identifying emerging threats before they escalate.
It was particularly notable that TRENDS researchers, during their engagements at the Ontario Parliament and the Global Imams Council headquarters in Toronto, presented a precise and insightful analysis of the Muslim Brotherhood as a transnational network. They stressed that confronting its ideology requires a moderate intellectual and religious discourse, as well as close partnerships between research and religious institutions.
It was therefore essential to emphasise that peace is not just the absence of conflict but the presence of justice and the spirit of coexistence — a reality the United Arab Emirates embodies through the “Abrahamic Family House,” which is a global model of human harmony that fosters interfaith understanding without compromising religious identity. The Abraham Accords were similarly highlighted as an example of transforming fear into hope and hatred into partnership. However, such partnership cannot flourish without decisively confronting the ideologies hostile to coexistence, foremost among them the ideology of the Muslim Brotherhood.
From this perspective, TRENDS continues its long-term research initiative, The Muslim Brotherhood Encyclopaedia, which exposes the group’s hidden structure and its financial and organisational networks. The “Muslim Brotherhood Power Index” also stands out as one of TRENDS’ most vital tools, providing a measurable assessment of the group’s global influence and offering decision-makers early-warning indicators to help them pre-empt potential threats.
Thus, TRENDS’ tour in Canada was more than just another international stop. In fact, it marked a new milestone on a long journey to build a global discourse that confronts extremism with truth, dispels darkness with knowledge, and restores the world’s faith that the future can indeed be more peaceful, provided we have the intellectual courage to shape it.
* The writer is the CEO of TRENDS Research & Advisory
