Every resident is an ambassador of tolerance: Sheikha Lubna

It is an important duty of everyone living in the UAE to deliver to the world the message of tolerance, Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Minister of State for Tolerance, said in a talk at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature on Wednesday. 
Citing the fact that the UAE is a country of more than 200 nationalities, Sheikha Lubna said: "We may live in small country but we are a multi-cultural society who live in harmony." 
"We are happy and comfortable but we need to change the perspective of other people in the world. Everyone in the UAE (citizens and residents alike) can become ambassadors who can talk about tolerance and how we live (in harmony)," she underlined. 

Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid bin Sultan Al Qasimi,  Minister of State for Tolerance addressing a session on ' A Time for Tolerance ' in Festival of Literature in Dubai. Photo by Shihab
Reacting to Sheikha Lubna's speech, Rev Canon Andrew Thompson MBE, senior Anglican chaplain at St. Andrew's Church in Abu Dhabi, told Khaleej Times: "It is very important to counteract the negative opinion of people living outside of the UAE."

"The best way to do that is when we (expats) go home, we talk about what it's like to live here. There are many ways to tell our stories to our family, friends, the media, etc. that the Middle East is not a monolithic region where there is rampant terrorism, breaking out all over," added Thompson, who is also the author of two books: Christianity in the United Arab Emirates and Jesus of Arabia.

"The vast majority of Muslim Arabs are peaceful and tolerant citizens just like anyone the world. Therefore, we need to counter the stereotypical Islamophobia and negative prejudices in the West by promoting the story of the UAE as a great model of tolerance."
angel@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai

Angel Tesorero

angel@khaleejtimes.com