Year of Tolerance and Giving
The year 2019 ended, the year that named as the Year of Tolerance under the generous initiative of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the United Arab Emirates, may Allah save him, who focused on rendering the UAE into a global capital of tolerance. By following up the course of events and achievements in the UAE, many achievements of tolerance will be seen, which exceeded any expectations, whether at the level of government achievements, at the level of civil community or at the level of many private sector institutions.
In this context, I would like to refer to Zayed's lighthouses of Tolerance, which are a museum containing exhibits from the heritage of Sheikh Zayed , may Allah rest his soul, and which can be considered also as an expression of his principals upon which he established the country and managed its affairs. These principals are based on tolerance and peace as an approach to be adopted theoretically and practically. These Lighthouses held several social and cultural event and activities, as to developing the values of acquaintance, compassion and dialogue between people of different cultures, religions and races in a climate where love and warmness are prevailed on UAE ground.
The achievements of this year in respect of the promotion of youth's life style were made in various aspects, such as the champions of tolerance programs. The UAE educational institution promoted the value of tolerance in schools and universities through many students' activities and programs.
Moreover, technology was utilized to spread the value of tolerance, though the implementation of a set of programs in cooperation with the global company "Apple". During the year of tolerance, value of tolerance emerged in all social, educational and cultural fields.
Media also worked on shedding light on the positive messages on tolerance and respect for diversity, as well as using social media to renounce hate speech. In addition, outstanding initiatives were launched to spread the culture of tolerance.
The communities' forum "Nobility of the objective and convergence of interests of the society" was a large platform, in which many of the residents of the UAE participated. The best ideas, suggestions and initiatives of the prominent figures of more than 200 communities living on the ground of the UAE, who believe in the importance of promotion and enrichments of tolerance. In this forum, many ideas and suggestions were highlighted, which can assist in spreading of the values and principals of tolerance in all social, economic, religious and educational fields.
In order to highlight the tolerance of the UAE people and their openness to the world and its cultures and in an explicit embodiment of the objectives of the year of tolerance, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoom, the Vice President of the UAE, the Prime Minister and the Ruler of Dubai, honored 14 persons, individuals and collective models and initiatives supporting tolerance in UAE Pioneers celebration, to celebrate the leading individuals and initiatives in respect of tolerance.
All of this were culminated by the greatest initiative ever launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, the Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, may Allah save him, where he received the Grand Imam Dr. Ahmad Al Taib, Sheikh Al Azhar and Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church in an official special visit on 03/02/2019. This visit reflected the visions of this wise leadership and their aspiration to build a promising future towards the establishment of human relationships, through which efforts integrate to achieve security and stability for the communities, not only at the national level but at the global level. As a result of this visit, the Document on "Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together" was launched. In addition, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed ordered to establish the Abrahamic Family House in Abu Dhabi, which is a center of dialogue between religions.
Indeed, the year of tolerance was an outstanding one, whose achievements reflected a long record confirming that the United Arab Emirates is the Country of peace and tolerance.
The leadership and people of the United Arab Emirates follow the steps of the founding leader Sheikh Zayed, may Allah rest his soul, who launched this noble human message and supported it with words and actions.
May Allah save our wise leadership and our generous, peaceful people, and May He always keep the United Arab Emirates in prosperity, peace and advancement.
