Tolerance, peaceful coexistence — tangible values in the UAE

BY DANIEL NWOSU

Raising the issues of tolerance and coexistence in the Golf countries, we realize that the UAE is a real incubator for the values ​​of tolerance, peace, security and cultural pluralism. Indeed, more than 200 nationalities enjoy a decent life and respect. Moreover, the laws of the UAE guaranteed justice, respect and equality for all, and criminalized hatred and intolerance, and the causes of division and difference.

Interior measures toward achieving a harmonized society

The UAE took concrete actions toward ingraining those values. Therefore, they have become “not only an extremely significant rhetoric in the United Arab Emirates, but also a political, social and economic project, underlines the anthropologist and assistant professor at New York University in Abu Dhabi. This discourse has experienced a real explosion since the law against discrimination and hatred of 2015: it prohibits discrimination based on religion, caste, faith, doctrine, race, color or ethnic origin; it also aims to punish intolerance by criminalizing insulting or hate speech against religions.

Furthermore, a Ministry of Tolerance was created six years back. It is designed to “promote tolerance as a fundamental values”, explained Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, when he was a Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates. Then, several initiatives have followed, including the creation of “year of tolerance” in 2019 and the visit of Pope Francis the same year. Additionally, the values of tolerance, coexistence and peace have been even incorporated in the school curriculums to raise a new generation imbued with those values.

Concrete Social affirmation

One of the audacious step toward making those values tangible, was the announcement of renaming the Abu Dhabi Grand Mosque: (Mariam Umm Issa in English = Mary, Mother of Jesus) in order to consolidate the bonds of humanity between followers of different religions.

In addition, taking into account the decriminalization of cohabitation for expatriates, the easing of visa requirements and restrictions on alcohol consumption, the first civil union of a non-Muslim Canadian couple was celebrated in Abu Dhabi on December, 2021. Unprecedented in the region, according to the Emirati news agency WAM, made possible by the law on the status of non-Muslims adopted in November. This is the first civil marriage of non-Muslims in the Gulf States. A sign of openness though.

Thus, Abu Dhabi has shown a broader tolerance towards other faiths. In fact, while Islam remains the state religion, Christmas, for example, is celebrated there by Christians. In fact, showing religious tolerance is also a way for Abu Dhabi to fight Islamism in general and political Islam in particular.

Many societal efforts of the United Arab Emirates continue to attract a highly skilled workforce and foreign investment. To begin the transition to a post-hydrocarbon economy, an economy of knowledge and new technologies, the country needs international talent. It is vital for it. Notes a consultant specializing in Middle East affairs.

International and regional political measures

During the last visit of the President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron, to the United Arab Emirates on; Mohammed Bin Zayed declared that the United Arab Emirates were enthusiastic about the idea of ​​​​strengthening cooperation in the fight against the terrorism, terrorist financing and extremism. In this regard, he stressed the importance of promoting the values ​​of peace, moderation, coexistence and tolerance among people, based on mutual respect, dialogue, cooperation and the renunciation of all forms of terrorism, extremism, violence, hatred, discrimination or incitement to such acts. He also affirmed that political efforts and establishing links through dialogue were always the best strategy to find a lasting solution when it comes to conflicts. Thus, “MBZ” highlighted the growing collaboration of Emirates in Africa, accentuated the importance of security and stability in the Sahel and Horn of Africa regions in particular and all Africa in general. . Touched by this commitment, the French President congratulated His Highness “MBZ” as well as the people of the United Arab Emirates, and he hailed the remarkable progress that the country has known.

As a way to conclude, if there is no unanimity regarding the United Arab Emirate’s willingness to tolerance, coexistence, but also the rejection of hatred, terrorism and the need to respect all religions and faiths, the efforts deployed by the UAE in this regard are so obvious.