Toronto: A delegation from TRENDS Research and Advisory initiated its research tour in Canada with a series of scholarly meetings in Toronto aimed at strengthening research partnerships and advancing knowledge on countering extremism and terrorism. The first day included a dialogue session at the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, attended by notable figures such as the Honourable Sharmin A. Williams, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, and the Premier of Ontario. The session, participated in by TRENDS' CEO Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali and a delegation from TRENDS, focused on the threats posed by the Muslim Brotherhood and the need for enhanced institutional awareness and research collaboration to counter extremist rhetoric.
According to Emirates News Agency, Ontario MPP Andrea Hazell honoured TRENDS for its efforts in combating extremist ideology and promoting knowledge-based education. The delegation also engaged with Dr. Leslie Dunn of the University of Ontario to explore opportunities for research collaboration, particularly in extremism studies. Discussions included potential joint projects to enhance expertise exchange and advance scientific knowledge production.
The delegation visited the Global Imams Council (GIC) headquarters in Toronto, where a session titled 'Generating Knowledge to Promote Dialogue' was held. Imam Mohammad Tawhidi welcomed the delegation, stressing the importance of cooperation between religious and intellectual institutions to develop moderate discourse capable of confronting extremism. Dr. Al-Ali was honoured with the 'Person of the Year' award by the Council for his scholarly contributions and global initiatives to combat extremism.
In his keynote address, Dr. Al-Ali highlighted the role of knowledge in strengthening peaceful coexistence and countering extremism, emphasizing the need for strategic vision, in-depth research, and international partnerships. He noted the evolution of extremism into a digital phenomenon, necessitating advanced research tools to detect and analyse threats early.
Dr. Al-Ali revealed that TRENDS has a team of Canadian researchers leading specialised projects focused on Canada, supporting long-term research partnerships. Researcher Shamsa Aref Al-Qubaisi presented on the Muslim Brotherhood Encyclopedia, a long-term research project by TRENDS, aimed at providing decision-makers with an in-depth analysis of the group's nature and dangers.
Senior researcher Badreia Helal Mubarak Saif Al-Reyami discussed the Muslim Brotherhood's International Power Index, developed by TRENDS' Political Islam Department. She explained that the index is a comprehensive quantitative tool measuring the group's influence across various dimensions globally and offers early warning indicators to help governments and security institutions anticipate threats.