Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
Years ago, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres made a visit in solidarity with Muslims during the holy month of Ramadan. This tradition began when Guterres was High Commissioner for Human Rights. The Secretary-General's recent visits were to Afghanistan in 2017, Mali 2018, Christchurch (New Zealand) 2019, Senegal, Niger and Nigeria last year. The United Nations News Bulletin conducted an interview with the Secretary-General, in which he talked about the meaning of this tradition for him. Until everyone joins their voices together to pray for peace. In response to a question about preserving the tradition of making a visit in solidarity with Muslims during Ramadan, he said: The majority of refugees were Muslims, and the majority of societies that host refugees with enormous generosity and solidarity were Muslims. By the way, there is nothing in the 1951 treaty on the protection of refugees that is not already found in the Holy Qur’an and in the teachings of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. There is a wonderful tradition, even before Islam in Arabia, of protecting people in need of protection fleeing conflict or persecution. So I felt it only logical to express my solidarity with Muslim refugees during the holy month of Ramadan. Every year I would go to a country with refugee camps or gatherings to spend time with them, where I would fast and express my appreciation for their traditions and religious values, and also show the same solidarity with the host communities. And when I became the Secretary-General of the United Nations, I decided to continue this tradition that is not only focused on refugees now but also on the suffering Muslim communities. In response to a question about what he learned from these visits, and what did he gain from fasting with Muslims during the month of Ramadan? Secretary-General António Guterres said: I have seen the true face of Islam represented in the peace, solidarity and generosity that I witnessed in the communities hosting refugees and also the resilience and courage of the refugees themselves, which is very inspiring. All of this continues to be an important source of inspiration for me in everything I do in my current position as Secretary-General to the United Nations. And about what he learned from those visits, and what he remembers most with the beginning of the month of Ramadan every year? Secretary-General António Guterres' response: The beginning of the month of Ramadan is a time during which we must think about what we are doing and the need to achieve peace in the world and the need for solidarity and the fight against inequality and the creation of opportunities for harmony in societies and respect for minorities, and respect for immigrants and refugees and for people to understand that we are all together in the same world separately from Our religious beliefs.
And about the coincidence of the month of Ramadan with the Feast of Resurrection and Easter, and what is its message to the peoples of the world at this time? Guterres said: It is a time when we must all unite for peace. Peace is the most precious thing, but it is absent in many parts of our planet. This is the time when we must come together. The time when all who believe in God - in various forms and expressions - should join their voices together in a common prayer for peace.