Dubai: Almost 70,000 people visited the three-day Dubai International Peace Convention (DIPC) that ended on Saturday, organisers said.
The event, held at Dubai World Trade Centre, also saw 250,000 people take a peace pledge on Twitter as part of a DIPC appeal.
The convention was organised in collaboration with Al Manar Quran Study Centre and held under the patronage of Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
More than a dozen Muslim speakers discussed a variety of topics in Islam, urging believers to promote the peaceful nature of their faith.
During the closing ceremony on Saturday, special guest Shaikh Abdul Rahman Al Sudais, Chief Imam of the Grand Mosque in Makkah, said some individuals misuse Islam to achieve personal goals and spread violence.
“Peace needs to be supported and safeguarded by a force, which is our faith in Islam. Our belief in peace does not mean we are weak or we are surrenders… If the world takes pride in its mass destruction weapons, then Islamic nations pride themselves in their greatest weapon — peace,” added Al Sudais.
Memorial shield
At the ceremony, DIPC Chairman Dr Hamad Al Shaibani presented a memorial shield to Al Sudais. In return, Al Sudais offered a memorial shield to Shaikh Mohammad. Dr Al Shaibani received the shield on behalf of the Dubai Ruler.
Dutch filmmaker Arnaud Van Dorn, who converted to Islam last year, was also honoured at the closing event. His son also embraced Islam and changed his name to Ali during the convention.
About a million viewers “from all over the world” watched the opening ceremony on different Dubai Media Incorporated TV channels, the media partner of DIPC.
