International Day of Human Fraternity celebrated

This Thursday marks the first Human Fraternity Day, born out of the signing of the Document on Human Fraternity (DHF) for World Peace and Coexistence. The signatories of the document, Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, considered one of the highest authorities in Sunni Islam, spent more than a year drafting it before signing it in the Emirati capital of Abu Dhabi on 4th February 2019, under the auspices of Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan. The date was not chosen at random, but to commemorate the 800th anniversary of St Francis' meeting with Sultan al-Malik al-Kamal in 1219. 

It is a historic achievement that would not have come to fruition without a long series of initiatives and tireless efforts by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) over the years to activate dialogue on coexistence and brotherhood among religions and among human beings in general.  

In late 2019, the Higher Committee for the implementation of the Document on Human Fraternity conveyed the message of the Pope and the Grand Imam to UN Secretary-General António Guterres. The two religious leaders then proposed the celebration of the International Day of Human Fraternity, which was finally declared by the UN and will be celebrated every 4th February. The international body has invited all member states to commemorate the day by promoting interfaith and intercultural dialogue.  

Following the spirit of this United Nations resolution, and the path of dialogue outlined by the Document of Human Fraternity, the Foundation for Islamic Culture and Religious Tolerance (FICRT) sees the need to continue supporting the building of bridges of dialogue with different social agents and public and private institutions to promote tolerance and a culture of peace in Spanish society. In the words of Juma al-Kaabi, director general of the FIRCT: "Building a more fraternal and tolerant society requires a daily commitment".
 
For this reason, the Foundation for Islamic Culture and Religious Tolerance, with the aim of carrying out initiatives that promote solidarity and unity among people, works daily on projects that open channels of dialogue, cooperation and tolerance among all members of society.

Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar will take part in the official celebration, which will be virtual due to the pandemic. An awards ceremony will take place at the event and will be broadcast in several languages. The Zayed Prize for Human Fraternity will be awarded to UN Secretary-General António Guterres and French-Moroccan social activist and founder of the Imad Association for Youth and Peace, Latifah Ibn Ziaten. The first to receive this award were precisely the Pope and the Grand Imam after the signing of the Document on Human Fraternity.  

"Since taking office as Secretary-General of the United Nations in 2017, Guterres has worked to find solutions to the problems facing the world, in particular with regard to global peace and security," the statement from the High Commissioner for Human Fraternity stressed.

The Higher Committee noted that Ibn Zyaten, who is one of the "most active and influential figures in the field of countering extremism, has dedicated her life to raising awareness of religious intolerance, following the loss of her son Imad in a terrorist attack in 2012. Latifa has since become a civil rights activist, known in France and abroad. She works with families and communities to prevent young people from falling into the trap of extremism, and strives to spread peace and promote a culture of dialogue and mutual respect".

"The unanimous adoption by the United Nations General Assembly of 4 February as World Human Brotherhood Day, based on the initiative presented by the UAE in cooperation with Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt, is a new victory for the efforts of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan and international recognition of his vision," the Emirati Minister of Tolerance said at the time. A vision that seeks to spread values of coexistence in order to stabilise conflict zones.  

Since the signing of the document, the UAE has worked in cooperation with the two religious leaders to disseminate and implement the principles set out in the document through global initiatives and projects.

The great symbol that will embody the values of the Human Brotherhood document will be the Abrahamic Family House, an architectural complex that will be located on Saadiyat Island (Abu Dhabi) and will include a mosque, a church and a synagogue, thus representing the coexistence of the three Abrahamic religions.  

This was emphasised by Prince Bin Zayed al-Nahyan, for whom the construction of the Abrahamic Family House will embody "peaceful coexistence and the reality of human brotherhood between races, nationalities and religious beliefs in the Emirates".    

The design, in addition to including three places of worship, will also include a cultural centre, and will be set in a garden that will symbolise an "oasis of human brotherhood". It is scheduled to open in mid-2022.  

The model of coexistence that is to be built will seek to close the door to extremist organisations that use religion to impose their ideas and that have caused so much damage, especially in the Middle East.  

Another example of the religious tolerance advocated by Bin Zayed, also located in the Emirati capital, is the Maryam Umm Issa (Mary, Mother of Jesus) mosque, formerly known as Seikh Zayed, which was renamed by order of the crown prince as a gesture towards other Abrahamic religions. This decision was welcomed by the city's religious leaders. In addition, Catholic, Orthodox and Anglican churches are located in the vicinity of the Maryam Umm Issa Mosque, a further symbol of coexistence.  

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan has been leading the country's humanitarian initiatives around the world for years. These initiatives are not only limited to the religious sphere and coexistence, but go beyond it.  

One example is the donation of $10 million in recent years to support the Carter Center in the United States to combat tropical diseases. Another example is the mediation between Eritrea and Ethiopia to end the conflict between the two countries that began in 2000. 

In the Abraham Accords, signed between the UAE, Bahrain and Israel, he was also a key figure in bringing the two countries closer together. This agreement led to the normalisation of relations between the two Arab countries and Israel and has set a precedent that other countries such as Sudan and Morocco have followed.  

But if Emirati humanitarian aid has stood out for anything in the last year, it is for supporting the efforts of several countries in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. In Jordan, they built a hospital to treat those infected by COVID-19. In Syria, despite differences with President Bashar al-Assad, the Crown Prince offered in a phone call to help the Syrian people. The UAE has also led several initiatives to transfer, stockpile and accelerate the distribution of vaccines around the world, especially in developing countries.  

In total, more than 121 countries around the world and approximately 1.6 million health workers have benefited in one way or another from the UAE's assistance in the fight against COVID-19.