Organized by the Law Respect Culture Bureau at the Ministry of Interior, a number of Women’s Ramadan Councils continued on Wednesday evening across the UAE; attended by a number of male and female journalists, along with a large crowd of people from the Media and Cultural sector and police officers.
The Wednesday evening Women’s Ramadan Council tackled the “Role of media organizations in supporting the Law Respect Culture”, through four main topics, namely; the concept of law respect culture and its religious, social and legal importance; the role of the media organizations in instilling the law respect culture; expression between freedom and responsibility; and as a fourth topic, some “legal highlights”.
Discussions focused on the councils’ main objectives, praising the Ministry of Interior’s keenness to achieve confidence and communication with community members, by establishing social-oriented departments, which seek to develop the sense of societal responsibility among individuals, and acquaint them with the vital role they play to support state institutions in discharging their duties, based on interaction and exchange rather than receiving and implementing orders.
The Councils’ sessions also included an overview of the establishment of the Law Respect Culture Bureau, the General Secretariat of His Highness Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Interior; based on the fact that acquainting individuals with the laws that apply to them, make them more efficient and contributory to achieve their security and the security of others. For this end, the Bureau has sought to educate individuals on provisions of the law and their significant importance in their lives. Following the successful mobile legal Ramadan tents that roamed the various emirates last Ramadan; and as per the instructions of the police leadership to make the legal meetings friendlier and closer, it was decided to hold the Ramadan councils in citizens’ homes this year.
Publisher and editor-in-chief of Asfar Magazine, Ibrahim Al Zohli, hosted a large crowd of people from the Media and Cultural sector, at his home in Khalifa A City in Abu Dhabi. Aisha Sultan / journalist with Al Ittihad newspaper led the discussions, in the presence of Journalist and Director Mrs. Fatima Mohammed.
Addressing the gathering, Al Zohli expressed his sincere thanks and appreciation to Lt. General HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, on the initiatives launched by the Ministry of Interior. Moreover, he stressed the importance of the Ramadan Councils, organized by the Law Respect Culture Bureau at the Ministry of Interior, which represent a unique opportunity to reach out to all citizens and listen to their views and ideas, with a view to enhance cooperation between the ministry and other institutions in the UAE society. He also extended his thanks and appreciation to the Law Respect Culture Bureau for its diligent efforts to organize and hold such councils in citizens’ homes.
For her part, Journalist Mrs. Aisha Sultan praised the importance of the Ramadan Councils’ initiative carried out by the Ministry of Interior; under the generous patronage of HH Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior. She commended the choice of topics raised and discussed at these councils: “The UAE society has been making significant strides forward towards progress. Being an open multicultural and multinational society, the UAE society cannot coexist and function properly without a well-advised and well organized law that governs its actions, and maintains the level of security achieved by the State,” she noted.
Mrs. Aisha Sultan added that the level of security, safety and stability enjoyed by the UAE society, is amongst the most prominent achievements made by the UAE; thanks to the solid law system supported by institutions and officials. Moreover, she pointed out that the Ramadan Councils seek to promote further stability and security, noting that “Media organizations are required to support and enhance the law respect culture; yet, we are witnessing a significant negligence on the part of the various media channels”.
In the same context, Emirati artist Saeed Salem lauded the role of the Ministry of Interior’s Ramadan Councils, which reflect the effective communication between the various segments of society, and support the security progress achieved by the State. “The Ramadan Councils organized by the Ministry of Interior strengthen the relationship between the ministry and other societal institutions, and contribute to disseminate and promote the law respect culture,” he stated.
The Council, hosted by Director/Journalist Mrs. Fatima Mohammed in Abu Dhabi, emphasized the need for cooperation between the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Education; so as to develop a scientific method in the academic curricula, designed to spread the law respect culture.
Attending the Council were Abdullah Bohajus, Chairman of the Board of Directors at the Eyal Zayed Theater for Arts, Theater and Television; Saeed Taleb Al Kathiri; Abdullah Mohammed Mubarak Al Kathiri; Mohammed Abdul Mohsen, Journalist and TV presenter; Ibrahim Al Zohli, publisher and editor-in-chief of Asfar Magazine; Comedian Saeed Salem; Fahad Al Amiri, presenter and media coordinator at the “True Picture Project Development Company”; Media spokesman for Eyal Zayed Theatre for Arts, and First Assistant Awatef Amer, on behalf of the Law Respect Culture Bureau.
Dr. Aisha bin Bashar hosted the Women’s Ramadan Council in the area of Mezher, in Dubai, where Author Maysa Rashid Ghadeer led the discussions. During the Council, which focused on the “Role of customs and traditions in supporting the law respect culture”, Dr Rafi’a Ghabash (psychiatrist) highlighted the role of the Founding Father, God have mercy on his soul, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan in changing the social perception towards women. The Council also discussed the law respect culture concept, based on efficiency and transparency in government institutions.
Present at the Council, Iman Al Suwaidi, from the Dubai Executive Council; Dr Rafi’a Ghabash; Mrs. Amal Al Mutawa’, from the Prime Minister's Office; Mrs. Afra Al Basti, Director General of Dubai Foundation for Women, and member of the National Council; Mrs. Hala Kazim, social consultant; Mrs. Asma’a Al Janahi, from the “Watani” program; and Mrs. Hala Al Gergawi, Managing Editor of the Ana Zahra Magazine.
For her part, Mrs. Fadila Al Mouini/ journalist with Al Bayan Newspaper hosted the Council in the area of Al Qarain in Sharjah, with Dr. Mrs. Noura Al Marzouqui leading the discussions on the “Role of Media Organizations in Supporting the Law Respect Culture”. Mrs. Moza Al Shamesi hosted the Council in Ajman, led by Aisha Abdulrahman, on the “Role of Educational Institutions in Supporting the Law Respect Culture”. This same topic was tackled by the Council hosted by Mrs. Khouloud Mohammed bin Haroun in Umm Al Quwain, led by Mrs. Amal Mohammed. The Ramadan Council at Ras Al Khaimah, hosted by Sumaya Hareb, also touched on the “Role of Educational Institutions”; with Halima Al Raisi leading the discussions. In Fujairah, the Council tackled the “Role of Customs and Traditions in Supporting the Law Respect Culture”; it was hosted by Mrs. Rouwaya Al Samahi, with Aisha Al Kaabi leading the debate.
The Council’s Topics
The Ramadan Council’s first topic highlighted the concept of law respect culture and its religious, social and legal importance. It has created a social culture among community members of all ages and categories, on the need to respect legislations (often referred to as written laws) and unwritten laws (customs, traditions, practices, usages, and other maxims of human conduct), because of their essential and vital role in protecting their rights and their lives and ensure their safety and freedoms. This would encourage individuals to respect the law out of conviction, not out of fear of punishment or legal penalty.
The second topic touched on the media's positive role in instilling a law respect culture, and consolidating its noble values. Moreover, it warned against the negative aspects of media in this regard, which requires that the media interacts with community concepts, based on highlighting right from wrong, regardless of the community’s desires that may not be commensurate with its interests. Media must also advocate values of respect for law and justice, by implicitly declaring that freedom protected by the law is better by far than the freedom based on chaos; that strength lays in law respect, and that violating the provisions of the law indicates weakness. Media must reach out to all segments of society to deliver a message, that existing laws in the state are the first step to instill this culture; which needs to be complemented by fully understanding these laws. Finally, media must establish a moral motivation for all members of society, by creating awareness on the importance of the legal culture, which compels individuals to respect the provisions of the law in all its forms; as this culture begins with the individual and the family, and ultimately reflects on society.
The third topic discussed the act of expressing between freedom and responsibility. It defined freedom as the backbone of the legal system, which represents the key component of a modern society, and an essential element to allow innovation, and creativity. No development or progress can be achieved in life without freedom; and its inherent values and benefits are closely associated with responsibility whose extent is determined by the law.
Every person has a natural and legal right to exercise his freedom of thought, expression and belonging. Yet, while exercising this freedom, every person remains responsible for his actions. This means that freedom is not absolute, and individuals cannot do anything that comes to their mind in the name of freedom, without any consideration to the implications of such actions on others. Therefore, one cannot defame others, by slander or libel to their good reputation, feelings and religious beliefs; neither can they ridicule their sacred places, undermine their dignity, by letters addressed to the public, or through newspaper articles, or controversial cartoons, or any other means, under the pretext of freedom of expression. Freedom stops when it infringes upon other people’s rights, freedoms, religious beliefs, feelings and dignity. It should not wreck society’s foundations usually drawn by the law that governs the lives of individuals within a community.
Article 30 of the UAE Constitution stipulates that “Freedom of opinion and expressing it verbally, in writing or by other means of expression shall be guaranteed within the limits of law.” This means that any individual has the legal right to exercise freedom of opinion in any form of expression; provided that it does not prejudice the rights, reputations and freedom of others.
The fourth topic was titled “legal highlights”; it provided legal models that individuals should comply with.
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The Arabic-language text of this announcement is the official, authoritative version. Translations are provided as an accommodation only, and should be cross-referenced with the Arabic-language text, which is the only version of the text intended to have legal effect.
Contacts
The UAE Minister of Interior's General Secretariat, Tactical Affairs and Security Media Department
Abu Dhabi Police GHQ - Security Media
Chris Cron +971-(0)-50-987-1317
E-mail: cron.media@hotmail.com
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