Muslim minorities council will help fight challenges

By setting up the body, UAE has once again shown its calibre of leadership and sagacity

In a global scenario fraught with politico-religious, sociopolitical and internecine friction and divisions, any and every attempt to widen the middle ground to accommodate more voices of reason, prudence and amity born of acceptance of differences yoked to a larger perspective of the value of diversity is a welcome thing. Therefore, the launch of the World Council of Muslim Minorities must be lauded. To be based in Abu Dhabi, that is increasingly maturing its status as an international hub promoting peace and tolerance, the council will address the challenges faced by Muslim minorities across the world and seek to fulfil their ambitions and address their concerns.

This is a goal that needed to be set up, as its time has come. The many issues being faced by Muslim minorities across the globe — from fighting marginalisation to thwarting the forces of radicalisation to examining [Muslims’] own degree of integration in their societies — call for urgent attention and resolution as the complexities of the current challenges continue to gather pace.

The council’s objectives to function as a catalyst that leads to improved assimilative outcomes for countries with Muslim populations and greater constructive narratives on the true essence of what it is to be a Muslim, will play a significant role in combating the pervasiveness of extreme ideology that is doing incalculable harm to the image of Islam.

In setting up a common platform with the express intent of addressing the matter of Muslim minorities, the UAE has once again demonstrated its calibre of leadership, political sagacity and international solidarity.