The UAE has always promoted the values of tolerance and President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s declaration of 2019 as the “Year of Tolerance” has given it a further boost (“UAE offers remarkable tolerance model,” Sept. 14, Gulf Today).

While strife is tearing the world apart and refugees are fleeing war torn zones, there can be no better message for the coming years than that of tolerance. The problem we face today is that many countries are waging a war on immigrants and closing their borders. UAE on the other hand is doing just the opposite.

The residents of this country are indeed very privileged to have a leadership that espouses the values of tolerance, co-existence and cooperation. And that can be seen in the harmonious coexistence of the 200-odd nationalities. It is a country where people of multiple cultures and faiths blend into one. There is mutual respect for different faiths.  Mosques stand side by side to churches and temples. Such harmony is something most nations are struggling to achieve.

The visit of Pope Francis earlier this year added strength to the spirit of amity and tolerance. The country has a Minister of State for Tolerance and even a pedestrian bridge in Dubai is named Tolerance Bridge. UAE is indeed a global model of peace and harmony.

Hate-based attacks targeting religious sites worldwide are on the rise. We have witnessed horrific attacks on mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand besides Catholic churches in Sri Lanka in the recent past. The world needs to come together to fight this scourge.

Like the narrative says I too hope that the Plan of Action is a success and the UN is able to effectively address hatred that is one of the leading global challenges of our era besides climate change.

Fahid Rahman

By email