UAE confirms status as global tolerance centre: Report

The UAE has continued to promote values of cross-cultural and religious interaction, tolerance, harmony and peaceful coexistence, during the month of May.

The country launched various programmes and engaged in numerous activities and events to confirm its status as a global centre of tolerance.

The Emirates News Agency shed light on the major events during the month.

Pope Francis, head of the Roman Catholic Church, has affirmed during an audience at the Vatican with Sara Almahri, Acting Charge d'Affaires of the UAE Embassy in Madrid, that tolerance and the UAE are ''two sides of the same coin.”

Pope Francis commended the UAE's vision for promoting values of coexistence and tolerance, the results of which he himself had witnessed in the Arab region and other parts of the world.

On May 24, the country launched a major campaign to help support hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees who were forced to flee Myanmar.

The nationwide drive was aimed at assisting those from the minority Muslim group who are now surviving in camps in India, Bangladesh and elsewhere.

Under the initiative, organisers hoped to provide education, food, health services, sanitation and shelter to some of the more than 1.2 million people.

The figure includes an estimated 720,000 children, 240,000 women, and 48,000 elderly persons.

"The UAE has always been proactive in its solidarity with the Rohingya refugees, especially children and women, and has worked from the very first moment to support them," said Dr Mohammed Ateeq Al Falahi, Secretary-General of the Emirates Red Crescent.

"We are now in a new phase of the UAE's humanitarian response to them. This is a continuation of the previous stages and in keeping with the challenges posed by the worsening refugee situation and the escalating crisis."

Until Friday, May 30, the nationwide campaign raised a total of Dhs65 million.

On the occasion of Ramadan, the UAE leaders pardoned 4,449 prisoners of different nationalities serving various jail sentences, after an order from President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Sheikh Khalifa also pledged to settle the financial obligations of the 3,005 released prisoners in a gesture that reflects his willingness to provide prisoners with an opportunity to start a new life and alleviate the hardships of their families.

Pakistani Prime Minister, Imran Khan, has thanked the UAE's rulers for pardoning hundreds of Pakistani prisoners in the spirit of Ramadan.

Sheikh Khalifa ordered the release of more than 3,000 inmates, including 572 who hail from Pakistan.

The UAE traditionally grants a large number of prisoners their freedom during the period, to give them and their families a chance for a fresh start.

Imran Khan expressed his gratitude to Sheikh Khalifa and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, for their generosity.

A statement issued by the office of the Pakistani Prime Minister stated that his country appreciates the initiative, which would contribute to further enhancing friendly bilateral relations.

In a practical translation of ''The Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together'', launched in Abu Dhabi last February, the Ministry of Interior held 70 Ramadan majlis’ under the theme ''Human Fraternity'' addressing many tolerance-related issues including values of peace, combating hatred and discrimination, east-west relationship, the UAE and making of tolerance and countering terrorism.

The UAE Water Aid Foundation, Suqia, launched its annual Ramadan campaign to provide drinking water to mosques and Iftar tents throughout the Holy Month of Ramadan.

This campaign is running in partnership with Mai Dubai and cooperation with 14 local charities. For the second consecutive year, Suqia’s Ramadan campaign spans different countries around the world in collaboration with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Charity and Humanitarian Establishment.

Objectives of this year’s campaign are aligned with 2019 Year of Tolerance in establishing the values of communication and co-existence in society, while positioning the UAE as a global model for tolerance.

The Ramadan campaign has reached 13 countries around the world.

In addition to the distribution of drinking water, the campaign highlights the drinking water crisis around the world and urges members of the society to donate to ensure clean water to the needy who spend their time looking for water instead of using it to fulfil their basic needs such as education, work, taking care of their families, and improving their living conditions.

In 2018, Suqia assisted over nine million individuals across 34 countries.

WAM