The International Institute for Tolerance, through its managing director, H.E. Dr. Hamad Al Shaikh Ahmad Al Shaibani, today commended customs officer Salem Abdullah bin Nabhan Al Badwawi for his noble and unselfish act in helping a Syrian family who were stranded near Hatta border on their way to Muscat, Oman.
The ceremony was attended by Brigadier General Ahmed Khalfan Al Mansouri, Secretary General of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Tolerance Award, and Khalifa Mohammed Al Suwaidi, General Coordinator of the World Tolerance Summit.
Dr. Shaibani invited Al Badwawi to present him with a token of appreciation for extending genuine assistance to the Syrian family during the first day of Eid in the early morning of Friday. Citing the customs officer as an embodiment of an Emirati value on tolerance and kindness, Dr. Shaibani expressed his pride and high hopes that a touching encounter such as Al Badwawi with the Syrian family would spur strong awareness on the advocacy on tolerance and would offer the world a glimpse on how Dubai and the rest of the United Arab Emirates truly lead and live the virtue of tolerance and peaceful co-existence.
Dr. Al Shaibani said that, “We have inherited a culture of tolerance because of the teachings of Islam and through the inspiration of our founding father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.” He further added that being tolerant does not mean alienating people from other culture and from other religious and political background but responding to them with concern and respect.
IIT which has inspired by the vision of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE vice president and ruler of Dubai, leads Dubai’s effort in establishing and maintaining a tolerant society and promoting Dubai as an ideal model for tolerance, anti- all forms of religious, gender, and racial discrimination among people.
The noble act demonstrated by Al Badwawi came at a time when IIT is gearing up for the first-ever World
Tolerance Summit. WTS has just concluded its press conference and is keen in sharing real life stories on how the practice of tolerance is possible in a nation such as the UAE where a diverse population live and thrive. Thus, the general coordinator of WTS, Mr. Khalifa Mohammed Al Suwaidi, has invited Al Badwawi to join the WTS in November. “We are inviting Mr. Salem Al Badwawi to be one of the speakers in a youth session.
It would be an ideal platform to share his story to inspire other people how a simple act of kindness could mean to another human being. His is a story of kindness shown to a stranger from another nation and this is what WTS is aiming for, compassion, respect, and tolerance for all,” Mr. Al Suwaidi said.