Tolerance is a source of strength

Coexistence has been the norm in the Middle East. It must become normal again.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan meets with religious leaders to discuss furthering tolerance. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi

Historically, the Middle East has been a region where there has been immense tolerance between faith groups. More than tolerance, in fact: before the current wars in Syria and Iraq, and the difficulties in Egypt, Christians would regularly come out for grand Ramadan iftars and Muslims would mix easily with their Christian neighbours – unaware, much of the time, of either’s religious heritage. Indeed, marriage across religious lines was not unheard of.

But as Dr Hasan Al Shafi’i of the Muslim Council of Elders put it last week, “There is a new sectarian mentality going on. There is a distancing between youth on both sides, from coexistence, as each one of them goes into his own world.” This indeed is a crucial part of the current troubles in the region.

The difficulties between Muslim Sunnis and Shia, between Christians and Muslims, and among other religious groups such as Yazidis can be exaggerated. The region’s religious coexistence has a long history and Christians are mandated political representation in many Muslim states.

Yet there is no doubt there has been a distancing. Some of this has been the result of war: the trauma of the Iraq invasion, the civil war in Syria and conflicts in Yemen and Egypt have all pushed communities to retreat away from coexistence, seeking safety in their own groups. And there has also been the effect of political groups: Hizbollah in Lebanon and the Iraqi government of Nouri Al Maliki both privileged Shia communities at the expense of others, creating resentment.

Taken together, this has created something of a “ghetto” mentality, where groups don’t mix as much, especially young people who have only had the unusual experiences of the past few years to go on. It is this separation that Dr Al Shafi’i was discussing.

In both the short and long-term, such separation is dangerous. Every large Arab state is pluralistic, with different religions and sects within. That diversity is an immense source of strength, to say nothing of creativity and ideas. There is much to learn from each other. The more this separation continues, the more the region will retreat into smaller enclaves, or smaller states, competing for resources. Far better to embrace the strength of diversity, which has been the historic experience of the region. It will be difficult, but that must be the Middle East’s future experience, too.