Mohammed Ahmed Al Murr, Speaker of the Federal National Council (FNC), has affirmed the importance of the UAE's humanitarian aid to millions of Muslims affected by the conflicts.
He added the move reflects the UAE's humanitarian gesture under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan , a position that earned the country a global pioneering stature in the United Nation's official Development Assistance programme.
Al Murr made the statement while heading the UAE Parliamentarian Division delegation at the 10th session of the Parliamentary Union of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Member States, in Istanbul (Turkey).
He said, "This session is being held at a crucial juncture in history when the security and stability of our Muslim peoples, being threatened, and the gap of mutual understanding with other world civilisations has been widening amid spread of forces of darkness, terrorism and extreme groups that should not claim embracing the noble values of tolerance that Islam teaches." Al Murr noted that the extremist groups have caused huge damage to Islam through acts of killing, displacement, destruction and violence, but added that a nation of 1.5 billion people is still continuing its cultural and historic role across the world.
He underscored that all the human rights principles in the world today are gleaned from the Islamic Sharia. Islam cannot be blamed for terrorism and its perpetrators.
Al Murr reiterated the importance of enhancing co-ordination and co-operation with other Islamic parliaments to spread the right Islamic values and teachings, as well as the true image of Islam. In other words, "we can call it an International -Islamic parliamentary dialogue," he said.
He noted that the extremism is also found in other religions and civilisations. In response to the current critical international relations, which threaten global security and peace, he continued, the UAE Parliamentary Division is submitting a proposal on Islamic Parliamentarian Charter to fight terrorism and ideological extremism.
The FNC Speaker slammed all acts against the teachings and principles of Islam, and its sacred symbols, including the publishing of offensive material about the Prophet Mohammed (PBUP), as freedom should be exercised with responsibility and respect for the basic rights of others.
"In the light of our adherence to the teachings and values of Islam, which call for a peaceful neighbourhood and mutual respect, we call upon Iran to understand the importance of settling the issue of the UAE-occupied islands of Abu Musa, Greater Tunb and Lesser Tunb, either through direct negotiations or referral to the International Court of Justice," he said.
Al Murr warned about any attempt to effect changes on the Islands, would not change the historic and legal facts regarding the UAE's sovereignty over the Island. "We demand for including our call to Iran to settle the issue of Islands amicably in the communiqué of the session." He urged world parliaments to symbolically recognise Palestine as an independent state.
Source: WAM