Summary Statement Conference on Combating Radicalism through Education for Tolerance and Peace

On May 20th 2025 the Interparliamentary Coalition for Global Ethics (IPCGE) hosted a pivotal conference at the European Parliament in Brussels titled Strategies to Combat Radicalism in the Middle East and Around the Globe Through Education for Tolerance and a Culture of Peace.

The event, attended by a significant UAE contingent, brought together policymakers, educators, and religious leaders to address the global rise of radicalisation through values-based education.

Key themes included fostering tolerance, critical thinking, and mutual respect in curricula to counter extremist narratives, with a focus on the Middle East and Europe.

Speakers, including Antonio López-Istúriz White MEP, who chaired the session, emphasised that security begins in classrooms where critical thinking is nurtured, noting growing radicalisation in Europe.

Shoshana Bekerman of IPCGE proposed a model curriculum inspired by the UAE’s tolerance-focused education, advocating for online accessibility and conditional aid to Palestinians based on Israel’s recognition.

Dr. Khalid al Ghaith and Dr. Mohd Herizal bin Hazri of the Higher Committee on Human Fraternity highlighted the UAE’s Abrahamic Family House and the need for ethics-driven curricula to address youth disconnection, citing OECD’s PISA 2018 findings that one in three high-income students feels they do not belong.

Ahmed bin Mohammad Al Jarwan of the Global Council for Tolerance and Peace explained their MA program in Tolerance and Peace to study regional conflicts.

Dr. Mohammed Abdulla Al Ali, Elaiza Al Hosani and Shaikha Obaid Al Nuaimi of TRENDS Research & Advisory praised the UAE’s Ministry of Tolerance and Coexistence as a replicable model to counter groups like the Muslim Brotherhood, emphasising empathy and dialogue.

Israel’s ambassador to the EU and NATO Chaim Regev underscored the UAE and Morocco as exemplars of moderate Islam, urging conditional funding for Palestinian education reform.

Tena Mišetić, representing European Commissioner Dubravka Suica, highlighted EC efforts in Lebanon and Palestinian Territories to align textbooks with UNESCO standards, stressing international cooperation.

The Imam of Peace, Imam Mohammad Tawhidi from the Global Imams Council called for a global coalition to develop values-based curricula endorsed by religious leaders, remove extremist content, and counter online radicalisation, particularly from groups like the Muslim Brotherhood.

Francisco Gaztelu of DG MENA and Gulf noted that radicalisation stems from poor or absent education, reinforcing the need for systemic reform.

The conference underscored the UAE’s leadership in promoting tolerance through education, with initiatives like the Sawab Centre and Hedayah Centre cited as global models for countering extremism.

Proposals included an international task force for deradicalisation, a counter-propaganda program, and a globally accessible curriculum to foster peace and combat extremist ideologies, particularly among youth exposed to divisive online narratives.

IMPAC, which last year published a research report on radicalising tendencies in Belgian school materials, wholeheartedly supports the event’s vision of countering radicalisation through values-based education that fosters tolerance and critical thinking.

We extend our deepest gratitude to the UAE for their exemplary leadership, particularly through initiatives like the Ministry of Tolerance and Coexistence and the Abrahamic Family House, which serve as global models for promoting peace and empathy.

IMPAC looks forward to forging partnerships, especially with UAE stakeholders, to develop a deradicalising curriculum emphasising analytical reasoning and critical thinking, empowering youth to navigate complex narratives and build a more inclusive, peaceful future.

Nigel Goodrich

General Secretary, IMPAC aisbl
nigel@im-pac.org

Photo caption: Nigel Goodrich (left) with the Imam of Peace, Mohammad Tawhidi.