UAE Always Condemned All Aggressive Actions Against Non-Muslims That Takes Place in The Name of Islam
By
Noura S. Al Mazrouei
August 13,
2020
It is the
beauty of the UAE that people who come from different religious beliefs are
free to practice their religion in the country. There are churches, mosques,
temples in many parts of the country.
We must promote a discourse that urges embracing values of tolerance and
coexistence
Image Credit: Gulf News
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For
example, of the 35 churches in the UAE, most are located in Abu Dhabi and Dubai
because these emirates contain a substantial number of expats.
Bishop
Bernard Giovanni Grimoli, who is in charge of churches in the Arabian Gulf
region, has gone on record to praise the freedom granted to Christians in the
UAE to practice their faith. He praised the fact that all places of worship are
protected by the authorities throughout the year and stated that “I have not
seen a Christian being harassed in the UAE.”
Interestingly,
an article entitled ‘Emirates Embrace of Religions since the Dawn of History’
in Heritage journal indicates that back in 1992, Sheikh Zayed requested a
French archaeological expedition to explore the monuments of Sir Bani Yas
island.
The
archaeological mission discovered a unique historic landmark in 1996 — a
Christian monastery dating back to the 7th century AD. As part of Sheikh
Zayed’s policy of practicing tolerance, it was announced that the monastery
will be preserved.
It is a
popular tourist destination since 2000. Visitors to Abu Dhabi are well aware
that the place has allowed migration of people of different religions since
ages.
The UAE
Federal Government is keen to promote acceptance and mutual understanding as
core values of the society.
As a
practical application of the principle of tolerance His Highness Sheikh Mohamed
Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of
the UAE Armed Forces ordered in 2017 that the Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed Mosque
in Abu Dhabi, to be renamed ‘Mariam, Umm Eisa’, Arabic for ‘Mary, the mother of
Jesus’.
The
Spirit of Unity
Inspired by
this move, an Indian-Christian businessman named Cheriyan, who had lived in the
UAE for 15 years, built a mosque at his own expense.
He tried to
establish this mosque before the start of Ramadan in 2018 as a gift to Muslim
workers in Al Fujairah and to thank Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed for renaming the
mosque in Abu Dhabi. He also named the mosque ‘Mariam, Umm Eisa’, after the
mosque in Abu Dhabi.
Many
churches and temples in the UAE regularly conduct iftar for Muslims during
Ramadan. People from other faiths fast alongside Muslims here. A Sikh gurdwara
in Dubai conducted Iftar for Muslims last year.
St George
Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Simhasana Cathedral organised Iftar and prayers during
Ramadan for Muslims under the theme ‘get-together’. These are some examples of
religious tolerance which has become the high point of UAE culture.
UAE At
the Forefront
The UAE
government has always condemned all aggressive actions against non-Muslims that
takes place in the name of Islam, both internally and internationally.
The
government has issued laws to punish anyone for using aggressive actions or
words against others. In the past the UAE has vociferously condemned extremism
and offered sympathy to the affected people all over the world.
After the
terrorist attack on the Coptic Marmina church in Cairo, Sheikh Nahyan bin
Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Tolerance, attended a Christmas service at
St Anthony’s Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Abu Dhabi, where he made a remarkable
speech.
In 2019,
UAE sent a firm message of religious unity to the world by establishing The
Abrahamic Family House, a place of worship for Jews, Christians and Muslims to
practice their own religions, in Abu Dhabi.
It is in
this spirit tolerance that UAE continues to be a peaceful place — one that
deeply believes in coexistence and respect of people's faith.
Dr.
Noura S. Al Mazrouei is a writer, academic and artist
Original
Headline: The idea of coexistence is dear to the UAE
Source: The Gulf News
URL: https://newageislam.com/interfaith-dialogue/uae-always-condemned-all-aggressive/d/122622