TRENDS To Host Fifth Annual Forum On Political Islam Addressing Extremism And Violence Patterns

TRENDS Research & Advisory is set to host its Fifth Annual Forum on Political Islam on 16th September 2025. The event, titled "Shared Patterns of Violence: Contemporary Approaches to Ideologically Driven Extremism," will take place at the Fairmont Bab Al Bahr Hotel in Abu Dhabi. This forum aims to explore the common threads of violence among extremist groups with varying religious, nationalist, and racist ideologies.

Hamad Al-Hosani, who leads the Political Islam Department at TRENDS, mentioned that Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, CEO of TRENDS, will deliver a welcoming speech during the opening ceremony. Keynote addresses will follow from notable figures such as Rt. Hon. Sir Liam Fox and Dr. Khalifa Mubarak Al Dhaheri. Additionally, the winner of the TRENDS Global Award for Combating Terrorism and Extremism will be announced.

The forum's high-level opening session will delve into how violence connects different extremist currents, from Islamism to far-right extremism. The programme includes four main sessions: Tracing the Origins of Extremisms, Deconstructing Foundational Ideas of Extremisms, New Approaches to Combating Extremisms: Global Experiences, and Community Discussions on Shared Patterns of Violence.

These discussions will feature experts from diverse countries such as the UAE, UK, USA, Canada, France, Italy, India, Indonesia, Portugal, Poland, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia. This diverse participation ensures a comprehensive international perspective on these critical issues.

Al-Ali emphasised that this forum occurs at a crucial time when ideological extremism is rising globally. He noted that these movements pose a shared threat to international security and stability regardless of their origins. "Through this forum," he stated, "TRENDS seeks to shed light on the commonalities among these movements and reveal the mechanisms that make violence a unifying language despite their differing references."

The conference benefits from media and strategic partnerships with various media organisations and both public and private companies. These collaborations aim to enhance the reach and impact of discussions held during the event.

By bringing together researchers and professionals from multiple disciplines and regions, TRENDS aims to foster a deeper understanding of extremism's shared patterns. This approach seeks practical solutions to counteract ideologically driven violence effectively.

With inputs from WAM