Insight and opinion from The National’s editorial leadership
June 16, 2023
For the first time in its nearly eight-decade history, the UN Security Council has passed a resolution aimed explicitly at the intrinsic relationship between discrimination, persecution and conflict.
Resolution 2686, jointly sponsored by the UAE and UK and passed unanimously by the 15-member council, calls for UN member states and other “relevant stakeholders” to, among other things, actively promote tolerance and peaceful co-existence, and to address hate speech and extremism. The Security Council also called on the UN’s own envoys and its peacekeeping and special political missions to engage in the effort, by keeping abreast of instances of hate speech, racism and acts of extremism that might impact international peace and security.
The relationship between hate speech and violence is well understood, though rarely emphasised enough. In the past century, the world has witnessed a great number of mass atrocities. In several of them, hate speech played a direct, causal role.
In the 1930s, Germany’s Nazi regime laid the groundwork for the Holocaust with a large-scale hate speech and disinformation campaign against Jews and other minority groups. And in the 1970s, the Khmer Rouge movement in Cambodia sought to label the country’s ethnic and religious minorities “enemies of the people”, before undertaking a genocide that killed up to two million Cambodians. The same story has been repeated over and over again in Rwanda, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Myanmar, and beyond.
The relationship between hate speech and violence is well understood, though rarely emphasised enough
The role of social media and other digital platforms in propagating hate speech these days may make it seem like a very contemporary phenomenon, but the weaponisation of people’s more intolerant impulses for selfish and, eventually, violent ends is not new. Nonetheless, the tools used are more potent now.
It is for this reason that Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary General, has made advocating against hate speech a central focus of his tenure in office. In 2019, Mr Guterres launched a “Strategy and Plan of Action against Hate Speech”, designating the UN’s special adviser on genocide prevention as its point person.
“Over the past 75 years, the world has seen hate speech as a precursor to atrocity crimes, including genocide,” Mr Guterres noted at the time.
This week’s Security Council resolution takes actions to address these concerns a step further, by addressing not only hate speech, but the extremist thinking that gives birth to it and drives it forward.
Speaking before the vote, Lana Nusseibeh, the UAE’s representative to the council, pointed out that “hatred is passed down through generations when racist and extremist ideologies are left unaddressed”.
This is a phenomenon with which the Middle East is all too familiar, as UAE Minister of State Noura Al Kaabi, who headed the Security Council session, noted.
“Our approach and initiatives are based on the challenges experienced by the Arab region, including the spread of hate speech and its role in inciting, exacerbating and prolonging conflicts,” Ms Al Kaabi said.
Notably, the resolution requests the Secretary General to provide an accounting, in person, of progress towards the resolution’s implementation by June 14, 2024. By calling for concrete steps from specific individuals and offices, the resolution takes an active approach to tackling the issue, rather than offering the usual hand-wringing and shallow condemnation often seen in international forums.
Erasing the scourge of mass violence from the world is one of the foundational goals of the Security Council, which was set up in the aftermath of the Second World War to “promote the establishment and maintenance of international peace and security”, as the UN Charter notes.
Getting there will be a long and difficult road – perhaps one without end. But, as Ms Nusseibeh noted: “The values of tolerance and peaceful co-existence are the foundation upon which lasting peace must be built.”
The biog
Mission to Seafarers is one of the largest port-based welfare operators in the world.
It provided services to around 200 ports across 50 countries.
They also provide port chaplains to help them deliver professional welfare services.
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Reputation
Taylor Swift
(Big Machine Records)
How Islam's view of posthumous transplant surgery changed
Transplants from the deceased have been carried out in hospitals across the globe for decades, but in some countries in the Middle East, including the UAE, the practise was banned until relatively recently.
Opinion has been divided as to whether organ donations from a deceased person is permissible in Islam.
The body is viewed as sacred, during and after death, thus prohibiting cremation and tattoos.
One school of thought viewed the removal of organs after death as equally impermissible.
That view has largely changed, and among scholars and indeed many in society, to be seen as permissible to save another life.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Barcelona v Liverpool, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE).
Second leg
Liverpool v Barcelona, Tuesday, May 7, 11pm
Games on BeIN Sports
Western Region Asia Cup T20 Qualifier
Sun Feb 23 – Thu Feb 27, Al Amerat, Oman
The two finalists advance to the Asia qualifier in Malaysia in August
Group A
Bahrain, Maldives, Oman, Qatar
Group B
UAE, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia
UAE group fixtures
Sunday Feb 23, 9.30am, v Iran
Monday Feb 25, 1pm, v Kuwait
Tuesday Feb 26, 9.30am, v Saudi
UAE squad
Ahmed Raza, Rohan Mustafa, Alishan Sharafu, Ansh Tandon, Vriitya Aravind, Junaid Siddique, Waheed Ahmed, Karthik Meiyappan, Basil Hameed, Mohammed Usman, Mohammed Ayaz, Zahoor Khan, Chirag Suri, Sultan Ahmed
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
Eoin Morgan (capt), Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler (wkt), Tom Curran, Liam Dawson, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, James Vince, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood
England v Australia, 11.15am
New Zealand v Ireland, 2.15pm
Sunday
Wales v France, 11.15am
Japan v South Africa, 2.15pm
Water waste
In the UAE’s arid climate, small shrubs, bushes and flower beds usually require about six litres of water per square metre, daily. That increases to 12 litres per square metre a day for small trees, and 300 litres for palm trees.
Horticulturists suggest the best time for watering is before 8am or after 6pm, when water won't be dried up by the sun.
A global report published by the Water Resources Institute in August, ranked the UAE 10th out of 164 nations where water supplies are most stretched.
The Emirates is the world’s third largest per capita water consumer after the US and Canada.
Tips to avoid getting scammed
1) Beware of cheques presented late on Thursday
2) Visit an RTA centre to change registration only after receiving payment
3) Be aware of people asking to test drive the car alone
4) Try not to close the sale at night
5) Don't be rushed into a sale
6) Call 901 if you see any suspicious behaviour
A timeline of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language
2018: Formal work begins
November 2021: First 17 volumes launched
November 2022: Additional 19 volumes released
October 2023: Another 31 volumes released
November 2024: All 127 volumes completed
Analysis
Members of Syria's Alawite minority community face threat in their heartland after one of the deadliest days in country’s recent history. Read more
Breaking News: The Remaking of Journalism and Why It Matters Now
Alan Rushbridger, Canongate
Company Profile
Name: Thndr Started: 2019 Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr Sector: FinTech Headquarters: Egypt UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi Current number of staff: More than 150 Funds raised: $22 million
Herc's Adventures
Developer: Big Ape Productions Publisher: LucasArts Console: PlayStation 1 & 5, Sega Saturn Rating: 4/5
THE APPRENTICE
Director: Ali Abbasi
Starring: Sebastian Stan, Maria Bakalova, Jeremy Strong
: Faf du Plessis (captain), Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock (wkt), Theunis de Bruyn, AB de Villiers, Dean Elgar, Heinrich Klaasen (wkt), Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Morne Morkel, Chris Morris, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Duanne Olivier, Vernon Philander and Kagiso Rabada.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Akeed
Based: Muscat
Launch year: 2018
Number of employees: 40
Sector: Online food delivery
Funding: Raised $3.2m since inception
All matches in Bulawayo Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
