Abu Dhabi: The UAE’s move to implement the anti-discriminatory and hatred law is an advanced civilised step to protect the rights and dignity of citizens and residents on its territory, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Emirates Human Rights Association (EHRA), Mohammad Salem Al Kaabi, has said.

He added that these laws will punish those who incite hatred and preach destructive and intolerant ideas in the community, citing that destructive ideas have wrought havoc in some countries.

Al Kaabi said the developed countries implement these laws to combat discrimination and hatred so as to protect people from any verbal or intellectual abuse.

“I think the existence of such laws is an urgent need for all countries, especially amid many messages of concern that incite racial hatred on social networking sites,” he said.

He stressed that citizens and residents live in peaceful co-existence in the UAE, which hosts more than 200 nationalities, noting that the UAE was ranked top globally for peaceful co-existence among different nationalities in accordance with the annual report of 2014 issued by the International Organisation for Peace, Care and Relief of the UN.

Al Kaabi said, “No doubt, the issuance of the law combating hatred will enhance social security.”