Despite the killing of Zvi Kogan, the UAE and peace will prevail
The terrorists who harbored visions of his captivity and violence sought to annihilate what he stood for: the belief in world peace that encompasses all Emiratis and all men and women who strive for it.
Such was the case during the past year when peacemakers have been continually being put to the test. The Yehuda rabbi Zvi Kogan living in the United Arab Emirates was killed this week, and this vicious crime is well known for the being a factor of current threats. There is no denying that Rabbi Kogan was violently abducted and killed, and such brutality can never be justified as any other terroristic acts. It was the act of destruction of the ideal of coexistence, the act against the Emirati people as well as those who live in this land. At the time of writing these words three suspects of this ANTISEMETIC HATE CRIME are arrested, and there will be decisions made by the courts of the United Arab Emirates. If they do get convicted, which is likely, they will receive the harshest sentence available by the law.
Rabbi Kogan was known and loved in the world as a part of the Chabad Lubavitch. It is a New York centered organization that serves Jews worldwide and travelers to Arab and Muslim countries. He had a very special part in developing relationships between Jewish and Muslim communities in the UAE. As such, Rabbi Kogan’s activities corresponded with the vision of the UAE for inter-communal harmony and tolerance.
The terrorists who abducted and killed him, on the other hand, aimed to annihilate what he stood for – a view of togetherness and respect for all those Emiratis, and indeed every man and woman who wishes to see a better world – one that is peaceful. Rabbi Kogan’s legacy will always be a source of strength that reminds us of our task to build bridges, defeat hatred, and fight against extremism in unity.
Those who organized the murder of rabbi Kogan, voted for him to be murdered, or supported this idea have failed to achieve their goal. The last escape for these people is the perverted ideologies which the picture of peaceful coexistence threatens, and that doesn’t represent the value he stood for. Those were not defeat for the cause of unity, but rather how far they have gone in their opposition to all that is progressive. There is still harmony among the people of the region, and their evil attempts to scuttle it have only strengthened our resolve and resolve to work towards a common future.
While we cry with grief on the passing of Rabbi Kogan, we pronounce terror has lost and the peace would win out. In the light of his memory, we again reaffirm our determination for co-existence and peace. The UAE will continue with its role as a beacon of hope in a part of the world that is so often overwhelmed by hopelessness. We are in one flock, more powerful than ever, and continue fighting for a time when respect for others comes first. Toward this end, each of us is obliged.
The organisations we head, Manara Centre for Coexistence and Dialogue and Anti-Defamation League (ADL) will directly collaborate in the fight against the global scourge of antisemitism and anti-Muslim prejudice, against extremism and hatred, and work towards the vision of peaceful co-existence and respect for all differences everywhere.
Yet, seeking to build a world free of hate, and suffused with hope and love, we must move faster. This requires new partnerships at new levels of ambition and more effectively than ever before.
We all need to transcend the borders of culture, religion, and nationalism, and consider each other as siblings who share a common commitment to the mission of establishing peace and prosperity. In a nutshell, the future will call for many more people like Rabbi Zvi Kogan.
Dr. Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi is the chairman of the Manara Centre for Coexistence and Dialogue and the chairman of the Defence Affairs, Interior and Foreign Affairs Committee of the Federal National Council of UAE.
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