His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on Wednesday sent out an emotional message to the residents on the occasion of International Day for Tolerance, which falls on November 16 every year.
In a letter addressed to the residents, he shared memories about his father, the late Sheikh Rashid, and founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed, who always promoted values of tolerance and coexistence.
Translation of the full letter that Sheikh Mohammed tweeted below:
A message of tolerance
"Brothers and sisters . May the Peace and the mercy and blessings of Allah be upon you.
Tomorrow, the world celebrates the International Day for Tolerance. On this occasion, I would like to say a few words from the bottom of my heart to citizens and residents, especially the youth.
I still remember the majlis of my father, Sheikh Rashid (may God have mercy on him) that happened more than four decades back ... the nature of the gatherings. They included citizens, young and old; the villagers as well as urban community; and people from different tribes, faiths, origins and races. For Sheikh Rashid, all of them were citizens, they were given same respect, rights and duties. And even gifts.
Of them, the closest to Sheikh Rashid was the one who served people the most and the most effective ones in their fields.
The people who attended his gatherings were not less than citizens, even though they were from different nationalities and cultures. Sheikh Rashid treated them as his sons, and gatherings integrated them in Dubai.
After the formation of the Union, I came to know Sheikh Zayed closely (may God rest his soul in peace); a father-son bond developed between him and me. I found in him a father and a teacher. I came to know about his majlis, how he respected people and his morals. His gathering was a school ... his talks were a school, and his interaction with people was also a school.
He helped everyone, taught everyone, loved everyone and they loved him back, and they all prayed for him. When he went forever, they bequeathed their love for Sheikh Zayed to their children and grandchildren.
This is the legacy of Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid, two greatest souls who left behind their principles and morals for us.
We should be proud of being a nation where different nationalities are living in peace and harmony. With true love and tolerance, all live and work together to build their children's future without fear of intolerance and hatred or racial discrimination or distinctions based on colour, religion, race or ethnicity.
We see the people equally, as God created them; no one is superior to others except in knowledge, or adherence to the laws and constitution, and by respecting our nation.
We are all the "children of Zayed", and his children don't hold his name and love to the nation alone, but they hold the values of his morals and indulgence and his love to all the people.
May God guide me and my brothers and sisters to do everything that is good for this great country.
Your Brother,
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum"
See original letter here:
'Tolerance Bridge'
The pedestrian bridge over the Dubai Water Canal has been named Tolerance Bridge. Announcing the name via his official Twitter handle on Wednesday, Sheikh Mohammed said bridges in the UAE connect humanity "literally and metaphorically".
"Tomorrow is the International Day for Tolerance ... This day marks the state of tolerance in the UAE. The country's residents are the happiest and the most tolerant," he tweeted.
Sheikh Mohammed said the UAE and tolerance are "two sides of the same coin". He added that tolerance is a "true value for Emiratis and a guarantee for the future of development in the nation".
He also posted the photo of a letter he wrote for the occasion, in which he said: "The UAE is proud of its tolerance and not its highrises or wide roads."
The International Day for Tolerance is an annual observance declared by the Unesco in 1995 to increase public awareness about the dangers of intolerance.
KT Nano Edit
Global country
The UAE is unique as it's the only country in the world that has a tolerance enshrined in the law. A progressive and mature society needs safeguards for social cohesion. More than 200 nationalities reside in the country and they are protected by the laws of the land. Other countries could learn from the UAE's model that stresses on respect to people of all faiths and countries. This is a global world and we are a global country.
reporters@khaleejtimes.com
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