The United Arab Emirates recently passed a law that is expected to tackle discrimination of all kinds, including those based on religion, doctrine, caste, creed, race, colour or ethnic origin after receiving an order from President Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed al Nahyan.
Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, Minister of International Cooperation and Development and head of the Committee for the Coordination of Humanitarian Foreign Aid, said that the law made evident the wisdom of the leader of the United Arab Emirates, who has been trying to spread a message of peace and foster a culture of non-discrimination for a long time.
The new law criminalizes any act that may stoke religious hatred or insult religion through any kind of action such as delivering a speech, writing a word, publishing a book, distributing pamphlets or circulating information online. The law also includes punishments for those who label other individuals or religious groups as infidels or nonbelievers.
Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, said that the law “guarantees the freedom of individuals from religious intolerance … and underpins the UAE’s policy of inclusiveness.”
The law hopes to offer a sound foundation for broad mindedness, tolerance and acceptance in the region and aims to protect all individuals, irrespective of their beliefs or origin. Authorities said that violating the law would cause offenders to risk jail terms of at least six months to over 10 years as well as fines from Dhs 50,000 to Dhs two million.
“Today, while we see a phenomenon wherein many societies are marred by division, spread of conflicts, fighting and destruction of homelands due to outbreaks of racial or religious discrimination, the UAE has taken measures and decisions which safeguard against all negative factors that can lead to in-fighting and discrimination,” said Lubna.
Apart from prohibiting all acts that insult God, his apostles, prophets, holy books, houses of worship and burial grounds, the new anti-discriminatory law also ensures protection to all individuals and groups on the basis of religion, doctrine, caste, creed, race, colour and ethnic origin. Apart from condemning actions that comprise the deliverance of hate speech or the promotion of discrimination against others via print, radio, online or visual media, the law also says that strict action will be taken against any person that attempts to incite hatred or cause violence on the aforementioned grounds.
Additionally, the law criminalizes all actions amounting to vandalism of religious rituals, symbols, holy sites or abuse of religion. Not only those directly involved in such discrimination but also those in support of such views will be held accountable for propagating hate crimes. Thus, the law specifically bars any event, including meetings and conferences within the Emirates that may be organized with the sole purpose of sowing seeds of animosity among different groups of individuals. Receiving financial support for such events would also be deemed punishable under the new law.
Not to forget, the law also encourages people currently involved in activities that violate the new legislation to voluntarily surrender themselves before concerned authorities so their penalties can be waived. It does not contradict any existing law that is meant to already protect certain privileged groups within the Emirates, including children, women and disabled people.
Religious leaders, rulers and legal experts from both inside and outside the United Arab Emirates welcomed the new law that promises to tackle religious and racial discrimination as well as hate crimes.
Photo Credits: ITV
