KUWAIT: Kuwait undertakes the principle of disseminating a peaceful culture, encouraging dialogue between civilizations and religions, as rooted in the history of Kuwaiti society before the emergence of the modern state, said a senior Kuwaiti official Tuesday.

Kuwaiti Foreign Minister and Acting Minister of Information Sheikh Dr Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah delivered this statement to the 2020 video ministerial conference, under the title 'Promoting Freedom of Religions and Beliefs,' held in the Polish capital Warsaw. The event aims to circulate the values of tolerance, acceptance of others, peaceful coexistence and dialogue with various cultures and religions. Sheikh Dr Ahmad thanked the Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau for the invitation to participate in the ministerial meeting.

Kuwait's constitution guarantees freedom of opinion, expression and belief, permitting the practice of religious rites safely, Sheikh Dr Ahmad Al-Sabah said while touting his country's attitude of openness and understanding. According to Article 35 of the Constitution, "Freedom of belief is absolute. The state protects the freedom of practicing religion in accordance with established customs, provided that it does not conflict with public policy or morals."

Despite the small size of Kuwait, it is considered a meeting place for people, as it embraces over 120 nationalities, where they experience a lot of protection considering the mutual respect, Sheikh Dr Ahmad noted.

Kuwait adopted Law No 19 of 2012 concerning the protection of national unity, which criminalizes matters including the promotion of ideology based on the superiority of any race, group, color, origin, religious sect, gender or lineage, he underscored.

In this sense, Kuwait condemned all forms of terrorism and violence that ejected by all religions and human values while being criminalized by international laws and norms, he underlined, pointing out that when extremism occurs, religious freedom diminishes, hate speech amplifies, and opportunities for dialogue are absent, he indicated. Everyone, regardless of their backgrounds, should cooperate in pursuit of mankind's well-being, he pointed out. - KUNA