He wears a turban and uses a picture of Al-Aqsa Mosque as the cover photo of his X account with nearly one million followers. While dedicating his speeches in English to supporting Israeli propaganda and adopting “religious reform” as a slogan, but he considers Muslims as an existential threat to Western civilization. Mohammad Tawhidi, based in Australia, defines himself as an “Islamic reformer," self-styling as the 'Imam of Peace,' and focuses on issues concerning Muslims.
Reviewing Tawhidi’s account reveals that a large group of those engaging with his posts are individuals belonging to the far-right, those who promote hate speech, and extremist Zionists. For years, Tawhidi has systematically disseminated misleading information about the Muslim world, distorting the image of the liberation and social justice movements.
The persona of Mohammad Tawhidi has garnered attention of several Western media outlets, presenting him as a reference in Islam. Tawhidi uses propaganda and rhetorical techniques, utilizing platforms and channels provided by outlets closely associated with extreme right-wing circles to propagate his contentious speeches.
The Link Between Mohammad Tawhidi and the Extreme Right
Although Tawhidi defines himself as an Muslim preacher, he actively engages in anti-Muslim far-right propaganda and extensively publishes content regarding what he calls the danger of Muslim migration to Western countries. These statements attract attention because they come from what is supposed to be a Muslim preacher, and are used by extremist right-wing parties such as “Reclaim Australia."
Tawhidi uses his alleged status as a Muslim theologian to attack and criticize Muslims. The far right has contributed to improving his image and strengthening this purported status within the media. In 2018, Tommy Robinson, the founder of the English Defence League and a staunchly anti-Muslim English activist, hosted Tawhidi and described him as “the most famous Imam in the world.” Robinson claimed Tawhidi was widely respected in the Muslim world and known for his frank discussions about the Islamic faith. Tawhidi was frequently used in far-right circles as a “witness from within Muslim community," even being hosted by anti-immigrant Australian politician Pauline Hanson.
Tawhidi became a media star despite promoting narratives that are not based on any evidence. In February 2017, Australian Channel 7 featured Tawhidi as a guest on a program where he disseminated false information, alleging a secret plan by Muslims in Australia to establish a caliphate on Australian soil.
Tawhidi promotes Islamophobic rhetoric in the West and has repeatedly called for banning the construction of mosques and Islamic cultural centers, and the establishment of an investigative body specialized only on Muslim cases. It is also worth noting that Tawhidi made statements that contradict his role as a preacher, such as saying that Islam is an irredeemable religion. This rhetoric raises suspicions, especially when issued by someone claiming to be a reformist religious person.
Misleading and Promoting Israeli Propaganda
In May 2019, Dov Hikind, a former New York State representative and a pro-Israel activist, hosted Tawhidi at a lecture to a Jewish group, introducing him to the audience as a “hero.” At the outset of the lecture, Tawhidi asserted that Muslims mistakenly regard Jerusalem as a holy site, adding that "Muslims who fight for Palestine are confused," and claimed that "Palestine is a Jewish land."
Despite publishing pictures of Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque on his X account as a form of admiration for Islamic heritage, he also spreads contradictory claims in other publications about the Jewishness of Jerusalem. During a speech at the Rotary Club in Adelaide, Australia, he reiterated that “Palestine is a Jewish land,” stating that history cannot be altered, advocating for acceptance of this historical reality.
While reviewing Tawhidi’s website, we encountered a clear statement expressing his past opinions. Additionally, numerous articles on the site suggest his view that Palestine is exclusively a Jewish land and that Jerusalem lacks significance as a holy Muslim city within the traditional Islamic context.
Tawhidi's social media page is filled with posts from official Israeli sources like the Israeli army page and the Israeli Foreign Ministry page. Many Israelis, especially from the extreme right, endorse and share his posts. Tawhidi also publishes many articles that align with the official Israeli narrative, such as the fact that the State of Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East. In turn, Israeli pages and news agencies republish and promote Tawhidi’s opinions.
Tawhidi regularly attacks supporters of the Palestinian cause. As an example, he has devoted some of his speeches to distorting the image of Muslim congresswomen Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib. He has accused them several times of supporting “terrorism” and what he called “supporting the agendas of Hamas in the U.S. Congress." Tawhidi also wrote for The Times of Israel an article accusing Congresswoman Ilhan Omar of "supporting jihadists in Kashmir."
Tawhidi had also previously published several misleading allegations on his X account. These claims were circulated by Israeli pages, including the promotion of a fake Hamas website, which Misbar had previously revealed in an investigation to be false. Additionally, Tawhidi systematically promotes the narrative that supporting the Palestinian cause equates to supporting terrorism. He has reposted misleading Israeli tweets, such as claims suggesting Palestinians fake their own death images, and has published assertions previously debunked by Misbar, such as the claim that Palestinian bodies move inside shrouds.
It is worth noting that Tawhidi is actively engaged in writing and promoting the “peace agreements,” as he appeared on several relevant occasions, including a meeting that included dozens of diplomats, clerics, businessmen, and academics in Rome at the Global Leadership Summit for the Abraham Peace Accords. His involvement in such activities raises doubts about whether he is engaged in organized political activity.
Is Tawhidi a Fake Imam?
Tawhidi claims to hold a Master's degree from Al-Mustafa University, but when the university was asked about his academic credentials, it denied this claim. In a written statement, the university clarified that he failed to complete his Bachelor's degree and dropped out after only one year.
While Tawhidi is presented as a voice representing Muslims, an investigation published by the Australian ABC network shows that Tawhidi is not recognized as an Imam by the Australian National Imams Council or its equivalent in South Australia. He is not affiliated with any Australian mosque or prayer center. Despite lacking these credentials, the intensification of his media presence has contributed to his being treated as a reference on Muslim issues.
Another investigation published by “The Intercept” revealed that he is the president of an Islamic association in Adelaide, Australia, which he founded himself. This investigation also reported that he lied about his academic papers and religious training, which he claimed to have obtained in Qom, Iran, but failed to provide proof.
Tawhidi heads an organization called the “Islamic Association of South Australia.” An investigation by the Australian ABC network suggested that the name may have been deliberately chosen to resemble the actual main body representing Muslims in South Australia, the “Islamic Society of South Australia.” This tactic appears to have been used to gain legitimacy through creating confusion between the two names.
The American Islamic Forum for Democracy published a series of articles accusing Tawhidi of not being a reformist Imam and cast doubts on his credibility as a Muslim Imam despite his positions rejecting terrorism. The organization accused him of being a radical Shiite cleric who takes extremist positions towards Sunnis.
On November 4, 2022, the Supreme Court in the Australian state of Victoria issued a decision requiring Tawhidi to pay $20,000 in compensation for false accusations he made on the X platform against an individual named Mustafa Awad. Tawhidi accused Awad of “promoting ISIS” and assumed that Awad used his job as a lawyer and immigration agent to bring what Tawhidi called "terrorists" to Australia. Tawhidi’s followers on social media also reported Awad, claiming he is an “extremist,” while defaming his reputation and publishing his phone number, email address, and personal work files.
The Dangers of Tawhidi’s Content
The content published by Tawhidi, despite its misleading nature, is gaining increasing traction because it operates under the guise of internal criticism of religion. This increases interaction with the content as followers rally around this type of criticism, perceiving it as conveying the experience of a witness within the group, thus enhancing its reliability. It reduces the likelihood that the information will be verified by the average recipient, ultimately making claims that lack evidence more believable. It increases the recipient’s belief that this type of discourse is neutral because the one presenting it criticizes his own group, which is supposed to represent his interests.
This type of content attracts parties that may seek to employ it politically, especially within populist and right-wing circles and among hate speech promoters, as it serves their goals by achieving purposes of contrast and diversity in information sources, ultimately obtaining more promotion and spread of the content.
Read More
How Israel Is Pinkwashing Its Aggression on Gaza
Israel in Arabic Disregards Departure Figures and Uses Old Photos To Depict New Jewish Arrivals
