Peaceful co-existence VS extremism in UAE forum.

Under the theme of “Global Peace and Islamophobia”, Minister of Tolerance Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, opened an international forum to promote ways of peaceful co-existence in Muslim countries.

At the forum held in Abu Dhabi under the auspices of Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in UAE, bin Mubarak said that the outbreak of racism and hatred stems from lack of co-existence culture.

“The forum will allow us to share ideas and develop strategies in order to achieve global peace and confront Islamophobia,” Sheikh bin Mubarak said.

He added that the forum will offer successful examples of peaceful coexistence and discuss thorny issues facing Muslims around the world.

The 3-day gathering hosts a large number of preachers and a galaxy of public figures from different culture around the world.

Addressing the attendance, president of the Forum Sheikh Abdullah bin Bayyah said that the discourse of Islam adopted by extremists and radicals sought to sow the seeds of hatred and non-acceptance of the other.

“The intellectuals, preachers and all spectrum of Arab society must work hand-in-hand to fight radicalization,” bin Bayyah demanded.

“We must combat extremism and intolerance by dialogue and renouncing discrimination and racism” he said, adding “education in schools and universities should be put in high priority.”

Commenting on the current Islam’s image, Dr. Abbas Shoman from Al-Azhar said that extremism, Fundamentalism and misunderstanding of true Islam based on tolerance harmed our religion.

“We should admit that some Muslims distorted the image of Islam before westerners who don’t know the gracious message of this great religion,” he said.