The UAE is a proud Arab and Muslim country, and as part of that identity it embraces a tolerant view of the world that includes a recognition that people of different faiths and races should be able to live together with mutual respect. Standing up for these values has been an essential part of articulating the response for the vast majority of mainstream Arabs to the vicious violence of the increasingly extreme fanatics who have murdered their way to dominate the politics of far too many Arab states.
The UAE has taken a lead in speaking out against doctrines of hatred, and both the government and its leading intellectuals and scholars are active in contributing to a variety of forums including religious ones that seek to re-affirm Islam’s principles and reject the violence of small groups of fanatics that has dominated the headlines. The fact that the UAE has taken this lead is based on its own history of tolerance. The UAE population and leaders are well aware of the many religions that are practised in the country, with a Hindu temple which is over 100 years old, and a Sikh temple, and many Christian churches for different sects in many of the emirates.
As the fanatics seek to control the region’s political agenda, conquering territory and ruling over millions of people’s lives, enforcing their control with disgusting punishments like slavery and ever more bizarre methods of killing people, it is imperative that the emotional and intellectual argument against this horror is led by the majority of Muslims.
This is where Emiratis and others have taken a vital stand in articulating the true values of Islam. Finding a powerful single voice can be difficult given the collegiate structure of Islamic leadership, but the worldwide tidal wave of comment, rulings and opinions from Muslim clerics and scholars condemning the extremists is very heartening. These eternal values are what will give hope to humanity, not bigotry and violence.