CHAIRMAN: DR. KHALID BIN THANI AL THANI
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: DR. KHALID MUBARAK AL-SHAFI

Qatar

Doha Interfaith Dialogue discusses human rights in religions

Published: 21 Feb 2018 - 08:42 am | Last Updated: 12 Nov 2021 - 03:45 am
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs H E Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi addressing the 13th Interfaith Dialogue.

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs H E Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi addressing the 13th Interfaith Dialogue.

By Mohammed Osman | The Peninsula

Doha: Under the theme “Religion and Human Rights”, the 13th Doha Interfaith Dialogue Conference kicked off yesterday hosting as many as 500 participants from 70 countries from across the world. 

The two-day Conference is organised by Doha International Center for Interfaith Dialogue (DICID). The conference will discuss three main themes, including the vision and concept of human rights in different religions, the position of religions on violations of human rights and human rights issues between divine laws and the international conventions.

The protection and promotion of human rights is the  top priority for the State of Qatar and its National Vision 2030, including its legislative system that calls for the protection of these rights, said H E Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.

Speaking at the opening session, H E Al Muraikhi stressed that the State of Qatar under the wise leadership of the Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, is keen to achieve a comprehensive development that deals mainly with human rights in all its economic, social, cultural, political and civil aspects including empowerment of women, promotion of the rights of children and people with disability as well as the establishment of the fundamental freedoms such as freedom of belief, freedom of thoughts and expression, and other liberties.

Despite the growing international interest in the protection and promotion of human rights, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs said, it is regrettable that there are gross violations of these rights at this time more than ever before. 

He reaffirmed the State of Qatar’s firm stance towards terrorism and its rejection in all forms, manifestations and ideologies that it calls for, regardless of its causes.

Regarding the siege imposed on Qatar by its neighbours Al Muraikhi said the siege constitutes a flagrant violation of human rights, not only what is provided under the national laws and regional and international conventions, but also a violation of religious principles and values.

The close relations between humanitarian values, teachings and principles in all laws and religions as well between human rights as supreme principles must govern life and societies, said Minister of State for Foreign Affairs H E Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi. 

Al Muraikhi called for strengthening global, regional and local efforts for implementation of these values and principles linking them to international human rights as the right to life and security is one of the most fundamental human rights.

For his part, Chairman of the Doha International Center for Interfaith Dialogue (DICID) Dr Ibrahim bin Saleh Al Nuaimi pointed out that the 13th Doha Conference for Interfaith Dialogue seeks to demonstrate the inter-religious relationship between religions and human rights.

The conference represents a great opportunity for a constellation of religions scholars, academics, heads of interfaith dialogue centers from around the world and those interested in the issue of interfaith dialogue to meet and find solutions to the challenges, which prevents coexistence and peaceful co-existence on the basis of religious values fixed in the divine religions. 

Dr Al Nuaimi noted that human rights are among the most fundamental assets in all the divine religions and even before all international laws and conventions, because these assets give human the right to life, the right to dignity, and the right to freedom.

There is a need to work hard and combine efforts of religious leaders and civil institutions, to address violations of human rights to meet both awareness and faith, with legislation and laws.

He also stressed on the importance of religious and legal awareness. “It is time for us to remove from all hearts and souls all hatred and malice, and to love each other of our brothers in humanity so that all of us can achieve a real peace that will prevent us from fighting forever,” Al Nuaimi added.

Chairman of DICID appeals to all religious scholars and the nobles of the nations and their wise men to strive for effort to return the lost humanity in this time to rationalise in order to preserve human dignity and the right to life.  

Dr Al Nuaimi announced the withholding of the Doha Prize for Dialogue of Religions for this year because the projects submitted had not been incorporated into clear integration between Interfaith activity and human rights, which deviate from the objective of this year’s prize, as the Prize Committee members decided to withhold the award.

The keynote speakers highlighted that not to use religions as pretext for acts of extremism and violence, and called for preserving human dignity, love, peace and solidarity among the followers of the three heavenly religions, and excluding extremism and hatred.

Abdelfattah Mourou, First Deputy Speaker of the Tunisian parliament, said that religions should not be used as a means to violate rights and destroy human values. He pointed out that man was created to be honoured rather than humiliated. He stressed on the need for religious people to stand united against every demonstration that harms human rights and turns them into a tool for aggression.

Rabbi Dr Reuven Firestone of the Hebrew Union College in the United States called for the protection of freedom of thought, justice, understanding and not to abuse religions and their followers or discrimination on the basis of religion, colour and sex. He cited the practices of a number of countries in this regard, including the Israeli entity for its abuse of the Palestinians and their rights, and rejection of African refugees.

Bishop Malkhaz Songulashvili of the Evangelical Baptist Church of the Republic of Georgia spoke about peace and human dignity, their foundations and the need to respect human rights as universal rights that all religions call for their protection.

Dr Aisha Yousef Al Mannai, Director of Muhammad Bin Hamad Al Thani Center for Muslim Contribution to Civilization, chaired the opening session.

The theme of the first plenary session of the Conference discussed Human Rights in Religions (Vision and Concept), where the speakers were from Croatia, Qatar, Morocco, US, Malaysia and Canada. 

The session was headed by Dr Hassan Abdul Rahim Al Sayed from Qatar, the session focused on practicing freedom of belief, religious practice and expression, human rights and dignity as well as the role of religious leaders in dialogue, establishment of peace, importance of fulfillment and insurance of human rights.

Speakers were Prof Dr Ivo Josipovic of Croatia, confirmed the need to promote continuous dialogue between religions, establishment of democracy, concept of reconciliation and the promotion of an atmosphere of tolerance, equality, freedom of belief and expression and Dr Ali Al-Qura’adaghi of Qatar, highlighted human rights in light of the Quran and the Prophet’s teachings (Sunnah). 

Dr Mariam Ait Ahmed of Morocco, also spoke about the principles of religions in light of violating human rights highlighting the role of religious leaders.

Ambassador Sri Razali Ismail of Malaysia, chairman of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) highlighted the need to promote diversity and Dr Jamal Badawi of Canada spoke freedom of belief and practice of worship and stressed on human dignity.