Background History
Muhanad arrived to Winnipeg with his brother in the summer of 2004, to reside with his uncle and grandmother in preparation for high school and pursuant university education. Muhanad attended Nelson McIntyre High school and graduated with good standing soon thereafter. Upon graduating from high school, Muhanad joined the University of Manitoba to complete his studies in business. While at the University of Manitoba, Muhanad was on the dean’s honour list and excelled with his academic achievements. Muhanad moved out of his grandmother’s house in the summer of 2005 to live with his brother in an apartment close to the University. While attending university, he met several individuals some of whom included Farid Imam and Maywand Yar.
Muhanad lived a cheerful university life, filled with vibrant social life and extra curricular activities. Muhanad had participated in many charitable events and volunteered in many occasions to help with organizing and orchestrating events that were geared for greater community benefit.
In 2006 Muhanad travelled with his friends to China, where he purchased some goods and brought them back with him as a business venture. Soon after, he organized yet another trip with his friends to Saudi Arabia for the annual muslim pilgrimage, the Hajj, a trip that Muslims make to Mecca once per year to commemorate prophet Ibrahim and Ismail’s sacrifices as did Prophet Muhammad.
Upon his return, Muhanad decided to leave again with his friends to Pakistan. On his departure, he informed his father that he will be living in Pakistan. After some discussions between him and his family, the family accepted Muhanad’s choices. Approximately one week later, Mahmoud, Muhanad’s father, traveled from UAE to meet Muhanad in Pakistan, to ensure Muhanad was safe in his new environment and to visit with him. Once there, Mahmoud traveled with Muhanad and went sightseeing and viewed a university in Peshawar. There the two met the dean of Islamic Studies, as Muhanad had contemplated pursuing these studies in the future. Since Muhanad was not sure he’d be staying there, he kept most of his belongings in his room back at his grandmother’s house in Winnipeg.
Back in Canada, one of his friends’ family, Maywand, had reported their son as missing. This initiated a missing person’s investigation. Muhanad was not considered as missing by his family at that time, and therefore, because his family knew his whereabouts, they were not concerned for him.
Rumors spread that Maywand had intended to join illicit organizations, and this rumor circulated to include Muhanad as well. This was not true, as Muhanad had no knowledge or intentions of joining in these organizations or participating in their activities. Instead, Muhanad is thought to have joined the Daawah (missionary) organization that calls for invigorating the spirit of Islam and engages in charitable work to help the poor in the less fortunate countries.