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325928
Wed, 04/23/2014 - 10:45
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Ministry of Culture, Youth and Community Development concludes interfaith discussions

Abu Dhabi (WAM): The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Community Development last night concluded its workshop on Interfaith Dialogue (Freedom and Economic Development), held in preparation for the G-20 summit to be convened in Brisbane, Australia in November. The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, who made the opening speech of the inauguration yesterday. Similar workshops and preparatory meetings are being held in a number of capitals around the world in preparation for the summit. Religious dignitaries, opinion leaders, university lecturers and educationalists participated in the meeting and commended the efforts exerted by the Minister to enrich the discussion of vital socio-cultural issues, which are instrumental to society and contribute to upgrading the cultural sector in the state. They all emphasised the importance of giving attention to social variables in order to benefit from the positive aspects of these variables and to supersede their negative ones. In a series of four panels, participants in the meeting discussed the U.A.E.'s vision with regards to dialogue, tolerance and co-existence. Together, these have created one of the best models of development to which people of different faiths, races and languages contribute, enjoying its results. In the first panel, moderated by Ibrahim Al-Abed, Director-General of the National Media Council, four working papers were presented. The first, delivered by Ali Al Hashimi, adviser to President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan on legal and religious affairs, focused on the importance of interreligious dialogue, saying, "It is now necessary to promote good thinking in pursuit of highlighting the message of religions with respect to the values of justice, fairness and tolerance. These values have been adopted and nurtured by the U.A.E. since it was founded by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. "Zayed's message involved serious and sincere action and his march still continues towards its ultimate goal," Al Hashimi said, adding that this entails a strong emphasis on promoting peace and justice all over the world so that they include all of humanity without distinction in terms of justice and rights, such as differences in views on religion, language, homeland, colour or gender. Al Hashimi said that civilisation-specific values constitute a common denominator between different nations but there are social factors, climatic conditions, differences with respect to colour and language, and disparities between nations. "In the light of this, the focal point of the dialogue should be that of finding a common civilisational and scientific framework among the parties concerned. This is to be followed by mutual respect between civilisations, as each civilisation endeavours to create interaction with others. Each nation has certain peculiarities in its civilisation that embody its ambitions and aspirations and preserve its norms and culture," he noted. Al Hashimi added that the world is now experiencing a transitional phase in terms of civilisation which encompasses various forces of change and cultural interaction, this having followed on from an era of intellectual struggles, economic conflicts and military clashes. This, he noted, had led to the collapse of many communities and the loss of millions of people, either through death or owing to false consciousness. Dialogue, he said, was a pre-requisite for civilisation, so that rapprochement and co-operation between different societies could be promoted. Dialogue is also indispensable for the establishment of peace on the basis of values geared towards tolerance, justice and righteousness. Dialogue, he emphasised, is the language of the mind, it is the best methodic agent for man to transmit his information. In support of this view, he cited several Quranic verses, which emphasise that Islam is a religion of tolerance, forgiveness, forbearance and patience. Following this, Mahmoud Al Sayyid Al-Maddani, a scholar of Al Al-Bayet, delivered the second paper in which he reviewed the successful experiment of the U.A.E. in nurturing the values of peace, tolerance, coexistence, and mutual respect between faiths in the state. He stressed that inter-faith dialogue is the only method of achieving unity between nations and avoiding wars, terrorism, injustice and moral corruption. The third paper was delivered by Father Ishaq Al-Anba Bishoy, Pastor of the Coptic Orthodox Church in Abu Dhabi. The third paper was delivered by Father Ishaq Anba Bishoy, Pastor of the Coptic Orthodox Church. In the paper, Father Bishoy said that the U.A.E. presents the world with a model of peaceful life led by people of multiple creeds, who share the same land, moral values, principles, goals and peaceful coexistence. He said, "The fact that we are on this podium attests in a very great measure to the tolerance of the U.A.E. and the fact that resident people perform all religious practices freely." He quoted Article 40 of the U.A.E. Constitution, which stipulates that: "Foreigners shall enjoy, within the Union, the rights and freedom stipulated in international charters which are in force or in treaties and agreements to which the Union is party ". In his speech, Father Bishoy emphasised that what the U.A.E. has achieved did not come in one bound. Rather, "it was the outcome of a wise policy led by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan over the passage of time. Sheikh Zayed's love overflowed and inundated all without distinction as to race or religion. Then President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan followed on the track of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan to complete the march." The panel was concluded by the fourth and last paper, which was delivered by Canon Andy Thompson of the Anglican Church in Abu Dhabi. He emphasised that coexistence between religions must support the altruistic efforts exerted by the international community in pursuit of the cultural and civilisational coexistence between nations and people. He said, "It has to be the driving force to develop, enrich and generalise these efforts. In order for coexistence between religions to serve just peace, the parties to it must liberated from all the shackles, pressures and connections that contradict the principle of this coexistence." He referred to the U.A.E. as the best example of coexistence between religions. The second panel was chaired by Dr. Yusuf al-Hassan, the former Director of the Institute of Diplomacy. In his speech, he reiterated the comments of Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, and his reference to the story of the success of the U.A.E. in the realm of tolerance with respect to the diversity of faiths and their coexistence in the U.A.E.. He posited an argument whose gist was that the dialogue is one that relates to these different faiths and their living side by side; it is a dialogue that involves commonalities geared towards long-term development and a successful dialogue that draws people nearer to one another. It emphasises respect to difference and to the dignity of man since human dignity takes the upper hand over any racial affiliation and difference is a fact of life. In the introduction to the panel, al-Hassan explained that the most prominent difficulties facing the dialogue between religions' followers comprise the negative stereotypes of the Gulf region, which are so common in the West. These stereotypes present the Gulf as an isolated, oil-powered society. Other difficulties comprise increasing migration between the countries of the world and the kind of extremism that culminates in hatred. Other difficulties comprise increasing migration between the countries of the world and the kind of extremism that culminates in hatred. In the second session, Dr. Ahmed Abdul Aziz Al Haddad, Head of the Dubai Fatwa Administration at the Department of Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities (IACAD), in his paper, gave a presentation on dialogue as one of the foundations of Islamic Sharia, and as one of the intrinsic sources of Da'wa (calling people to Islam). "That is why," said Al Haddad, "Allah engages in a dialogue with his creatures saying, in the Quran, 'Behold, thy Lord said to the angels: "I will create a vice-regent on earth"'. "So, Allah engages in a dialogue with the universe and dialogue is an intrinsic part of Islamic Sharia, and the approach Prophet Mohammad (PBUH)followed as he called people to Islam, conveying, as a messenger, the message from Allah. "The common denominator among all religions is faith in Allah, that Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) engaged in a dialogue with the nation and that the different peoples embraced Islam through dialogue as our approach to calling to the way of Allah". Al Haddad continued, "Any dialogue is aimed at mutual understanding between the involved parties, reaching a conviction based on an argument or case, keeping away hatred and aversion, and achieving rapprochement which leads to coexistence and mutual support which is what Islam aims at for with calling to Islam. Mutual respect, fairness, justice, parity and common language were cited by the scholar as the preambles parties to dialogue should take for granted as they engage in their dialogue. "Mutual respect, fairness, justice, parity and common language were cited by the scholar as the preambles parties to dialogue should take for granted as they engage in their dialogue," he concluded. In the second session, Dr. Ahmed Abdul Aziz Al Haddad, Head of the Dubai Fatwa Administration with the Department of Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities (IACAD), in his paper, gave a presentation on dialogue as one of the foundations of Islamic Sharia, and as one of the intrinsic sources of Da'wa (calling people to Islam). That is why, said Al Haddad, Allah engages in a dialogue with his creatures saying, in the Quran, " Behold, thy Lord said to the angels: "I will create a vicegerent on earth." "So, Allah engages in a dialogue with the universe and dialogue is an intrinsic part of Islamic Sharia, and the approach Prophet Mohammad followed as he called people to Islam conveying, as a messenger, the message from Allah. "The common denominator among all religions is faith in Allah, that Prophet Mohammad engaged in a dialogue with the nation and that the different peoples embraced Islam through dialogue as our approach to calling to the way of Allah" Any dialogue is aimed at mutual understanding between the involved parties, reaching a conviction based on an argument or case, keeping away hatred and aversion, and achieving rapprochement which leads to coexistence and mutual support which is what Islam aims at for with calling to Islam. Mutual respect, fairness, justice, parity and common language were cited by the scholar as the preambles parties to dialogue should take for granted as they engage in their dialogue. In a third paper, Sayyid Ibrahim al Khalil Al Bukhari, Chairman and founder of Ma'din Academy, Kerala, India, started his paper with the Quranic verse:" Behold, thy Lord said to the angels: "I will create a vicegerent on earth" (Surah Al-Baqara, Verse 30). He said that Lord gave priority to humankind for this mission despite the fact that there are so many other creatures alongside humankind. The scholar paid a tribute to the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan for his humanitarian achievements in the U.A.E. and overseas and said this approach continues to be followed by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, His Highness General Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of U.A.E. Armed Forces and Their Highnesses Supreme Council Members and Rulers of the Emirates. Al Bukhari noted that U.A.E. and India, which has the world's second largest Muslim population and is the world's second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, both set an example in harmony and coexistence among followers of a large variety of different religions, creeds and cultures. A fourth paper was presented Brian J. Adams is the Director of the Centre for Interfaith '&' Cultural Dialogue at Griffith University, Australia. Adams explained that the topic of interfaith dialogue is being addressed by the university because of the important relationship between religious freedom and economic development, noting that the interfaith meeting in Abu Dhabi significantly contributed to the making of policies that would achieve both. Adams also stressed that respect is the foundation of dialogue for mutual understanding and peaceful coexistence. The third and last session mediated by Reverend Canon Andy Thompson MBE, Chaplain of St Andrew's Abu saw three papers in which the participants' told the audience of their first-hand experience of U.A.E.'s tolerance, respect for the individuality and cultural and religious diversity of residents. The fourth and last session saw three papers by Indian participants who discussed the experiences of Indian followers and members caste and Indian religions who lived in U.A.E. and enjoyed for more than a century the freedom of religious worship. At the conclusion of the conference, the participants highly valued the role Ministry of Culture, Youth and Community Development in organising the conference and emphasised that the conference viewed the best experiences in U.A.E in terms of protection of religious freedom in addition to the attitudes and experiences of institutions involved in interfaith dialogue in U.A.E. which they affirmed that it nurtures the values of peace, tolerance, coexistence and mutual religious respect. – Emirates News Agency, WAM

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