Fez – The Embassies of Israel, Morocco, and United Arab Emirates organized an Iftar in Stockholm on 20 April, under the theme of peace and tolerance. Marking this occasion, guests celebrated peaceful coexistence and the shared traditions of Muslim and Jewish cultures.

The Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Ann Linde, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Robert Rydberg, as well as members of the diplomatic corps accredited in Stockholm attended the event.

Linde emphasized the importance of dialogue and tolerance while thanking the hosts for this “historic” initiative.

Morocco is widely regarded as an example of tolerance in the Arab and Muslim world, by ensuring religious freedom and emphasizing the necessity of communication across religions, civilizations, and cultures.

Read also: Moroccan Muslim-Jewish Co-Existence Celebrated in New York

According to the Moroccan Ambassador in Stockholm Karim Medrek the goal of the initiative is to symbolize the harmony and symbiosis between Islam and Judaism.

Medrek emphasized the contribution of the Jewish culture to Morocco’s national heritage, as well as the historical links and the attachment that the Moroccan Jewish community has with its homeland. 

He also recalled the Moroccan peaceful coexistence between Muslims and Jews, which has characterized the Kingdom of Morocco for centuries.

Morocco took the initiative to include the Hebrew tributary as an essential component of Morocco’s cultural and historical identity in the 2011 Constitution, and has worked “to make this diversity a lever for development in the service of the nation and a symbol of its openness to cultural and religious pluralism,” concluded Medrek.

Diplomats who attended the event expressed their “strong” desire to learn more about Morocco, to better understand its policy of promoting tolerance and coexistence around the world.

During the ceremony, the attendees recited verses from the Holy Quran and sections of the Haggadah, praying for world peace and serenity.