Andalib Akhter / New Delhi
In a bid to strengthen and exhibit its tolerant and inclusive society, the United Arab Emirates, UAE is observing the year 2019 as the Year of Tolerance. Various social, cultural and legal initiatives are being taken to commemorate this special year.
The Year of Tolerance will focus on to deepen the values of tolerance and co-existence among cultures by teaching the youth the values of tolerance through a series of initiatives, projects and dialogues between various cultures and civilizations.
It will also focus on legislative and policy-oriented objectives that contribute to mandating cultural and religious tolerance via dialogue and targeted media initiatives and projects.
“Tolerance is a virtue and an intrinsic part of the UAE Islamic culture. It is observed at an individual, organisational and national level. With more than 200 nationalities living peacefully and successfully in the UAE, the UAE society has been an undisputed example of being a tolerant and inclusive country. Now, the Federal Government is keen to promote acceptance and understanding as core values of the society” said Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to India Dr. Ahmed Albanna while interacting with a group of media persons in New Delhi today.
To prove its principle of tolerance, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, H. H. Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan has ordered renaming the Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed Mosque in Al Mushrif, Abu Dhabi, to ‘Mariam, Umm Eisa’ — Arabic for ‘Mary, the mother of Jesus’, informed the ambassador.
Besides the UAE Government has also launched various programmes which include –
Anti-discrimination/Anti-hatred law
H. H Sheikh Khalifa has issued a Federal Decree on Combating Discrimination and Hatred, which aims to protect everyone in the UAE and thus bring the concept of social security to a new level. The law is intended to provide a solid legislative ground for the environment of tolerance, co-existence and acceptance. It aims to fight discrimination against individuals or groups based on religion, caste, doctrine, race, colour or ethnic origin.
The law criminalises any acts that trigger religious hatred and/or insult religion through any form of expression, which covers speech and the written word, books, pamphlets or online media. The law prohibits any act that would be considered as insulting God, his prophets or apostles or holy books or houses of worship or graveyards.
The law prohibits any entity or group established specifically to provoke religious hatred and recommends stringent punishments for groups or supporters of any organisations or individuals that are associated with hate crimes.
It also bars any kind of events such as conferences and meetings within the UAE, which are organised with the sole purpose of sowing seeds of discrimination, discord or hatred against individuals or groups. Receiving financial support for such activities is also punishable under the new law.
International Institute for Tolerance
The UAE has set up the International Institute for Tolerance. It is meant to provide solutions to the challenges of extremism and promote the UAE as a role model for tolerance. The law also launches the Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Tolerance Award which seeks to honour the efforts of those who contribute in spreading the culture of tolerance in the societies.
The institute is open to scholars and tolerance advocates who wish to work towards establishing a culture of tolerance and openness in societies and against all forms of discrimination among people, based on religion, gender, race, colour or language.
The institute will encourage open dialogue and highlight the honest and peaceful essence of Islam against extremism, fanaticism and intellectual repression. It will propose policies, legislation and initiatives to entrench the values of tolerance and co-existence and create an environment that is conducive to social and cultural harmony.
Ministry of Tolerance
UAE has introduced the Ministry of Tolerance in its government, reinforcing the UAE’s commitment to eradicate ideological, cultural and religious bigotry in the society.
