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Countries can learn from UAE's tolerance

Despite being just a few hours flight-time from Dubai, Egypt and the rest of the region can seem a world away

In many ways, the UAE can seem like an island, an oasis of stability in a too-often grim regional neighborhood. Unfortunately, it sometimes takes someone else's tragedy to make one truly appreciate life here.
Such was the case this week, with the tragic news that two bombings in Egypt left at least 48 worshippers dead as they gathered for Palm Sunday. Despite being just a few hours flight-time from Dubai, Egypt and the rest of the region can seem a world away. But, it should not be forgotten that such incidents - even if they occur in other countries - strike at the very heart of what the UAE stands for, such as tolerance and understanding.
By attacking Coptic Christians (not for the first time) Daesh and like-minded extremist groups hope to foment hatred among faiths and open rifts between communities - exactly the opposite of what the UAE has done domestically, and is working to encourage abroad. Incidents such as the ones in Tanta and Alexandria starkly highlight the need to continue the effort.
In February, I had the opportunity to witness how the UAE is helping, during a visit to Cairo for a conference organized by Al Azhar and the UAE-based Muslim Council of Elders which brought together religious leaders from around the region to discuss ways in which peaceful co-existence between Muslims and Christians can be encouraged. Notably, the trip included a trip to St. Peter and St. Paul's Church in Cairo, which was struck by a similar Daesh attack in December, killing almost 30 people, mostly women and children.
Such an experience helped to put the UAE in perspective. While worshippers in Egypt - the birthplace of the Coptic Church - have to live with the threat of potential attacks looming over their heads, here in the UAE they (and other religions) are free to worship without fear, safe in the knowledge that the government and people of the country are actively working to promote understanding.
In many ways, the UAE has become a model that other countries should be well advised to follow. One can't help but think, for example, that other countries could greatly benefit from a UAE-style Minister of State for Tolerance. Until others take similar initiatives, it is the UAE's duty to continue to take a leadership position to promote peace throughout the region.
Importantly, it should never be forgotten that the struggle against extremist groups is ultimately an ideological - rather than a military - struggle. Militant-held cities and towns can be re-taken and terrorist cells and leaders can be captured or killed, but until the mentality that spawns them is destroyed, tragic incidents will continue to happen around the world. One need look no further than Iraq - where Daesh's earlier local incarnations were repeatedly all but wiped out, only to rise again - to see that this is the case.
Thankfully, the UAE is at the forefront of a multi-pronged effort to destroy extremist ideology. In addition to encouraging tolerance, the country - through the joint UAE-US Sawab Center - is taking the fight to social media and counteracting the efforts by Daesh and other groups to corrupt young mind's through the Internet. Perhaps more importantly, the UAE has been working hard to educate and prepare young people for the needs of the future. Instilling a sense of hard work - and, of course, tolerance - at an early age will go a long way to ensure that the problems of today will, hopefully, one day disappear.
In the meantime, those of us who live in the UAE should be thankful that we live in a country in which we can all live in peace and harmony, and spare a thought for those living not far away that live without that.
- bernd@khaleejtimes.com