Last weekend, I had a lengthy discussion with a foreign diplomat about the UAE’s policy of religious tolerance. Part of it focused on an incident reported to her by another diplomat which indicated that, despite the Government’s clear policy, there is much that needs to be done to prevent the dissemination of views that promote religious hatred and intolerance.
The incident, I gather, occurred at one of the capital’s leading schools during Ramadan. A Muslim student is alleged to have told a non-Muslim student that anyone who wasn’t fasting was an infidel, a kafir. When this was reported to the school’s management, the student who had made the remark was called in and questioned. Yes, indeed, he is alleged to have said – anyone who wasn’t fasting during Ramadan was, indeed, a kafir. He said that he had been taught this by his father.
There is, of course, no requirement in Islam that non-Muslims should fast during Ramadan. Moreover, not only are the terms “infidel” and “kafir” insulting, it is also clear in Islam that they are in no way applicable to the Ahl al-Kitab, the People of the Book, such as Christians and Jews.
What could be done, my diplomatic friend and I wondered, to ensure a broader understanding not only of the inaccuracy of such remarks but also of their insulting nature? They reflected, we felt, an underlying intolerance of the views of others that, surely, was directly opposed to the support for religious, ethnic and cultural tolerance that is a fundamental element of the UAE’s philosophy. Action, we agreed, was clearly necessary.
Yesterday, we got our answer, with the issuing of Law No. 2 for 2015, designed to criminalise any discrimination on the basis of religion, caste, creed, doctrine, race or colour. The official announcement specifically stated: “The law also includes provisions for punishing anyone for terming other religious groups or individuals as infidels, or unbelievers.”
Further details of the law are carried elsewhere in The National. In summary, it also prohibits any acts to insult God, the prophets, apostles, holy scriptures, houses of worship and graveyards. It further bans any organisation established with the specific intention of provoking religious hatred.
There is no doubt in my mind that, despite the Government’s commitment to religious and other tolerance, there is a widespread undercurrent of intolerance, often based upon ignorance. It can be heard in school playgrounds, as children reflect the views absorbed from their parents. It can be detected on religious feast days too. Non-Muslim friends of mine are always happy to offer Eid Mubarak greetings to their Muslim colleagues and friends, and, in return, greetings are extended on the occasion of Christmas or Diwali. One year, however, I got into a fruitless argument with someone who claimed it was somehow wrong for a Muslim to wish a Christian “happy Christmas”.
The Government’s view of such an obscurantist approach was made abundantly clear a few years ago when Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed attended the Christmas Eve service at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. It is, nonetheless, of concern to hear such views here.
The new “Law against Hate Crimes and Discrimination” is to be welcomed. It will not prevent people from holding intolerant and discriminatory views, but it will make the public expression of them subject to the full force of the law. At first glance, it resembles the first Race Relations Act in Britain, passed in 1965, which outlawed discrimination in public places, though the UAE law has much stronger penalties. Intolerant views are still held in Britain, but the public expression of them is subject to legal action and tolerance is widely accepted as being the norm. Perhaps over time that will come to be the case in the UAE. In the meantime, cracking down on intolerance and discrimination through the courts is an important step.
Peter Hellyer is a consultant specialising in the UAE’s history and culture
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Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
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Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
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the pledge
I pledge to uphold the duty of tolerance
I pledge to take a first stand against hate and injustice
I pledge to respect and accept people whose abilities, beliefs and culture are different from my own
I pledge to wish for others what I wish for myself
I pledge to live in harmony with my community
I pledge to always be open to dialogue and forgiveness
I pledge to do my part to create peace for all
I pledge to exercise benevolence and choose kindness in all my dealings with my community
I pledge to always stand up for these values: Zayed's values for tolerance and human fraternity
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