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UAE: Meet the Emirati scholar whose writings help spread the spirit of tolerance, coexistence – News

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Professor Jamal Sanad Al Suwaidi also nominated for the 2019 Nobel Prize in Literature



Posted: Thursday, July 7, 2022 at 7:16 pm

Last update time: Thursday, July 7, 2022 at 10:52 pm

Emirati scholar, author and strategy expert Professor Jamal Sanad Al Suwaidi recalled that in the early days, families, mosques and communities were educational institutions that played an important role in instilling values, customs and traditions in children.

in an exclusive interview Cali era, Al Suwaidi talks about his childhood, education and some of his latest publications. The Emirati researcher said his mother played the most important role in preparing him for school.

“With sound instincts and awareness, she understands the nature of a child’s transition from a comfortable home environment to a new world with different rules. She recognizes the need for a conscious, thoughtful transition. Today, a special orientation session was held for this purpose, “He says.

Al Suwaidi, who is also vice-chairman of the board of the Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies (ECSSR), said his father, uncle and older brother took him to the mosque, where religious values ​​were instilled. He learned how to pray at an early age.

“At the mosque, my first lesson was to engage with society and uphold its customs and values. I also learned etiquette in terms of speech and behavior,” he said.

“These daily trips to the mosque are important because it educates people and prepares them to participate in a wider environment.”

Unlike today, school in Al Suwaidi’s childhood was comparable in importance to the family; the care provided by the school was comprehensive – mentally, psychologically and physically.

“Building and strengthening character is one of the goals of the school, and various educational programmes aim to achieve this. This occurs directly through the instillation and reinforcement of a strong motivation for values ​​and ethics, as well as indirectly through the inclusion of moral values ​​in the various programmes ,”He says.

“Teachers do not see their role as limited to ensuring that students understand subjects in order to pass exams; rather, their aim is to build balanced individuals who appreciate moral values ​​and are committed to them.”

Sadly, many schools today no longer focus on the ethical aspects of fulfilling their mission, the scholar argues. “The teacher explains the lesson to the students and then goes home,” he said.

Al Suwaidi is a graduate of Kuwait University, majoring in Political Science. After that, he returned to the UAE full of ambition and hope of serving his country. He first gained practical experience in 1981 when he was appointed as the third secretary of the General Office of the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “I worked there for about a year, and then I left to complete my postgraduate studies abroad. That year, I was assigned the position of editor-in-chief of the magazine. diplomat magazineissued by the ministry at the time,” he said.

Start writing and researching

The Emirati academic says his writing begins with almanbar alhur (Free Forum) Magazine. He wrote a series of articles entitled “Memoirs of a Poor Man Who Went to London”, published by the Political Science Association of Kuwait Universities. “The magazine represents an important step in the evolution of my writing, moving from fiction and descriptive writing to addressing political and social issues,” said Al Suwaidi.

“Getting my PhD from UW was my first step towards becoming a researcher and scholar.”

Al Suwaidi has written several books on politics, extremist ideology and the values ​​of tolerance and coexistence and social life and has contributed to many publications.

In 2019, the Emirati scholar was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature for the importance of his work Mirage Respond to extremist ideologies that have spread globally in recent years and threaten social security and human values.

In March, he was awarded the French Medal “Afal Francophone Fraternity 2022” for his fight against extremist ideologies and for spreading the values ​​of tolerance and coexistence through his writings.

According to Al Suwaidi, Islam as the religion of last, as mercy to all, leads people to peace and not to extremism, violence and the killing of innocent men, women and children. “The world faces major upheaval, which places a great responsibility on us. As citizens, we must ensure that our day-to-day actions reflect a sense of belonging and loyalty to our homeland and wise leadership to preserve our gains and strengthen our ability to build this country ,”He says.

The Emirati writer said a clear vision must be developed, primarily to consolidate safety and security, protect people from extremist ideologies and raise awareness levels to protect them from false narratives that manipulate emotions. influences.

Al Suvardi’s new book

Speaking of his latest book, Muslim Brotherhood in the United Arab Emirates: MisjudgmentPublished in 2021, Al Suwaidi said the book recounts the emergence and history of the Muslim Brotherhood organization and its expansion both at home and abroad, with the aim of studying its practice and dissecting its ideological and political projects and vision, as well as its presence in the UAE.

“The views of the Muslim Brotherhood do not reflect Islam or its pure image. The Muslim Brotherhood underestimates the priorities of society and does not recognize the importance of deep belief. To believe the group’s claims is a serious offense to our Islamic faith, ” said the Emirati academic.

The book also comprehensively analyzes the views and experiences of Muslim Brotherhood rule, taking into account differences in its political performance based on specific national circumstances. Ultimately, the book proves that the most important factor in the Muslim Brotherhood’s decline has to do with their “misjudgment.” “They lack the pragmatic political vision required for leadership and governance demands. Their approach relies on manipulating the pressures faced by the Arab people, such as lack of food, poverty, disease and low levels of education. They clearly misunderstood the so-called Arab Spring. events, and overestimated the 2011 UAE petition, which they believed would lead to power and domination,” he said.

The book also reveals the group’s attempts to control education, especially the curriculum, and to monopolize the scholarship system.

Al Suwaidi said two main factors prompted him to write these miscalculations; including the lack of books documenting such an important period in the UAE’s history, and emphasising the extent to which the country and the UAE reject extremist religious groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood. importance.

The Emirati author advises young aspiring researchers and writers to value reading and education.

“We must also recognize that in the digital age of advanced computers and smartphones, the presence of technology is no substitute for cultural and moral education. Education is essential for our full participation in the world,” he said.

The Emirati researcher is currently writing a book on President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan titled Mohamed bin Zayed: A symbol of humanitarian action.

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