Human Fraternity Document: Global reference for tolerance

Mustafa Kamel

On February 4, the second anniversary of the signing of the Human Fraternity Document, which has become an international reference for tolerance that the world celebrates annually, came as the United Arab Emirates succeeded in bringing together the poles of the Islamic and Christian religions to sign the document, which strengthened the country’s position as an oasis of tolerance and a beacon of peace.

Commemoration

In commemoration of that anniversary, the international community celebrates for the first time the International Day of Human Fraternity after the United Nations General Assembly in December 2020 approved the International Day of Human Fraternity to be observed on February 4 each year.

The anniversary comes at a time when the UAE renews its commitment to move forward to achieve the goals of the document in order to build bridges of communication, harmony and love between peoples. His Holiness Pope Francis of the Catholic Church and His Eminence Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb met February 3-5, 2019 in the UAE at the invitation of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, where they signed one of the most important documents in human history.

In addition to the signing of the document, the Human Fraternity Award was launched, a historic mass was held in the presence of about 140,000 people, and the construction of the Abrahamic Family House in Abu Dhabi was announced, which represents a monument that unites the three main monotheistic religions of Christianity, Judaism and Islam, and embodies the values ​​of tolerance and coexistence.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan announced the allocation of land on Saadiyat Island for the construction of the new cultural landmark called the Abrahamic Family House, which includes a church, a mosque and a synagogue under one roof, to form for the first time a common community in which dialogue and ideas can be exchanged between adherents of the different religions. The unique religious milestone symbolizes the state of peaceful coexistence and reality of human brotherhood that different races and nationalities of various beliefs and religions live in UAE society.

Human Fraternity Document

From the standpoint of religious and moral responsibility, the Human Fraternity Document opened by declaring the adoption of a culture of dialogue, joint cooperation and mutual acquaintance between Al-Azhar and the Catholic Church, as it called on world leaders, international policy makers and the global economy to work seriously to spread the culture of tolerance, coexistence and peace and to intervene immediately to stop the shedding of innocent blood and to stop the wars and conflicts the world is currently witnessing.

During telephone calls, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed discussed with both the Sheikh of Al-Azhar and the Vatican Pope establishing the principles of the Human Fraternity Document in light of the challenges facing humanity, foremost of which is the corona pandemic, stressing that the UAE continues to work to promote coexistence and brotherhood throughout the world.

During the inauguration of Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan as UAE Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence on Sunday, February 7, 2021, the sessions of the Forum for Promoting the Principles of Human Fraternity in Governmental Work, in coordination with the tolerance committees in more than 40 ministries and federal authorities in the UAE, Sheikh Nahyan stressed that this forum is a celebration of the International Day of Human Fraternity, which was declared by the United Nations to mark the day of issuing the Abu Dhabi Document on Human Fraternity.

During the conclusion of the forum, whose sessions witnessed a great diversity in raising issues related to the implementation of the principles of the Human Fraternity Document, the participants demanded the importance of international cooperation and sincere international intentions for a more just and humane world, in addition to activating human values ​​to eliminate racism and ethnic and religious intolerance.

The forum presented many recommendations that, in their entirety, call for uniting efforts to face the critical challenges facing the world, support marginalized groups and people of determination, and integrate them into their societies.