YouSaid · the spoken record

King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein

lines on the record: 43
first: 2015-09-24
most recent: 2019-09-24
sittings or episodes: 4
sources: un-general-debate

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“Tolerance, compassion and the equality of all human beings are the values that make global harmony and collective action possible. Those are the values that permeate the Charter of the United Nations — to live together in peace as good neighbours, to honour the rights and equality of all and to combine our efforts and unite our strengths, not only in order to maintain peace and security but also to improve human life through justice, prosperity and greater hope for humankind. Those are the moral obligations that the United Nations founders set forth. Now they are our responsibility. We must not fail. May peace and God’s mercy be upon everyone.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“We must also press forward towards an end to the conflict and a just, lasting and durable peace through the realization of the two-State solution — a solution that is in accord with international law and the relevant United Nations resolutions, provides an end to conflict and creates a viable, independent and sovereign Palestinian State, on the 4 June 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital and living side by side with Israel in mutual peace and security. The two-State solution is the only genuine solution, because what is the alternative — one State, segregated, with unequal laws, dependent on force, betraying the deepest values of the good people on both sides? That is a formula for enduring conflict, not a path to stability, security and peace.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“It begins with respect for the holy sites and rejecting all attempts to alter the legal status of East Jerusalem and the authentic historical character of the Holy City, Jerusalem. What lessons do we teach young people when armed personnel enter Al-Aqsa Mosque/Haram Al-Sharif, even as Muslim worshippers gather to pray? As a Hashemite Custodian, I am bound by a special duty to protect Jerusalem’s Islamic and Christian holy sites, but all of us have a reason and a moral obligation to uphold religious freedom and human rights. Let us therefore safeguard the Holy City for all humankind as a unifying city of peace.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Forty years ago my father, His Majesty the late King Hussein, who loved peace, stood in this very Hall and decried the occupation and attempts “to eradicate from the world’s memory centuries of history and tradition and of spiritual, moral and cultural ideals” (A/34/PV.7para. 22). It is a global moral tragedy that the occupation continues, yet no occupation, no displacements, no acts of force can erase people’s history, hopes or rights or change the true heritage of our shared values among the three monotheistic faiths — and nothing can take away the international rights of the Palestinian people to equality, justice and self-determination. Young people ask me, Why does the world not stand up for Palestinian rights? Is it not time to answer them by showing that global justice and human rights belong to them too?”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Collective action is also vital for ending bitter crises and conflict, and no crisis has done more global damage than the core conflict in my region, the Palestinian- Israeli conflict. Neither side has achieved the durable peace that a secure future depends on, while regional and world stability have continued to pay the price. It is a terrible irony that a land holy to three faiths that share the great commandment to love one’s neighbour should ever be a place of conflict. That is the land where prophets have walked and where generations of Muslims, Christians and Jews have sought to live in obedience to God, teaching their children compassion, mercy and respect for others. Segregation, forced displacement, violence and mistrust do not belong in that Holy Land.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“What will tomorrow’s world look like if we do not help end those crises and give refugees and hosts alike the support they need to meet the future? How is it that people today can still be disrespected and victimized for their faith? Atrocities at mosques, churches, synagogues and temples have shocked the conscience of the world, but so should the dark, criminal ideas, from across the ideological spectrum, that drive those and other attacks. Hard work by all of us is needed to defeat those groups and their message of hate and mistrust, but no effort stands a chance unless young men and women everywhere have a stake in a positive future. The forces of violence seek out the vulnerable and excluded. Can we afford to abandon the world’s young people to extremism and despair?”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“What will our future look like if millions of the world’s young people continue to be denied the rich fruits of new technology and global wealth? Can we afford to ignore the crisis of exclusion? Or will we do the right thing, support the energies and talents of all the world’s youth and drive all economies forward, through fair and inclusive global growth? What will our world look like if we do not work together for a healthy and safe environment? Water-scarce countries like Jordan already know the dangers of climate change. A global crisis demands global action. How can we excuse delay? Let us ask ourselves why, in the twenty-first century, crises are still displacing millions of people across our world. There are more forced displacements today than at any time since the Second World War.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“This week leaders from around the world will stand before members, here in this great General Assembly Hall, to take part in the general debate of its seventh-fourth session. We come here in recognition of a simple reality — the General Assembly is vital to meet the dangers and seize the opportunities of our world. Collective action — that is the promise of the United Nations. Nearly 75 years ago, this Organization was created by the specific, individual actions of Member countries, coming together to shape a better future, and today we still urgently need each and every Member country to act, and to act together, with our global neighbours and achieve the better, safer world all of us need. For if we do not act, what hope do we have?”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Let us choose, instead, to succeed and give the world’s people, especially young people, confidence in global justice, hope for new opportunity, and international laws, agreements and institutions that everyone can rely on.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“The sacrifices we and other host countries make every day can continue only if donor nations hold up their side of the partnership. That means making continued, multi-track efforts in development support and humanitarian assistance. Such efforts not only prepare refugees to return home and rebuild their countries, but also give hope to the people of host countries, who have sacrificed so much. The world cannot address the refugee crisis or any global crisis unless we work together to support those who are doing the right thing for the future we all share. Peace and prosperity demand constant, collective action. The alternative is to fail our history and fail our future.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“Jordanians have led efforts to unite the world in mutual respect and understanding. Finally, we must also strengthen our collective response to the global refugee crisis. As many here know, Jordan has carried a massive and disproportionate burden as a refugee host. Our people have opened their homes, schools, public services and hospitals. We have shared our country’s scarce resources: our food, energy and precious water. The crisis has held back economic growth and job creation; jobs are urgently needed by our young people, who constitute more than 60 per cent of our population. Jordanians have borne the refugee burden in full accordance with our country’s long humanitarian traditions, but we know, and the world knows, that the crisis is a global responsibility.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“Jordan will continue to support all multilateral efforts to help Syria achieve a political solution that is based on the Geneva process and Security Council resolution 2254 (2015), in order to safeguard the country’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity and to create the conditions for stability and rebuilding. An effective global response to terror also requires continued collective action. Let us be clear about it: for all our victories, the fight against those outlaws, the khawarij of Islam, is not over. Winning the war demands a long-term, holistic approach — one that pairs security measures with strong initiatives that support inclusion and hope. Offline and online, we must counter all — I say all — ideologies of hatred, including Islamophobia.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“The Hashemite custodianship of Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem is a duty that Jordan is proud to carry, and we will counter any attempts to change the Holy City’s historic Arab, Christian and Muslim identity. But Jerusalem’s future is not Jordan’s concern alone; it is the concern of all Member States. There are global implications when religious worship is threatened and international law is undermined. Collective action is also vital when it comes to resolving other conflicts and crises that threaten our world.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“That means utterly rejecting actions that jeopardize negotiations, whether by illegal encroachments, land confiscations or threats to the welfare of innocents, especially children. We need to support full funding of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and other vital efforts to protect families, keep communities stable and prepare young people for productive lives. It would be a terrible mistake to abandon youth to the forces of radicalization and despair. Such support is urgently needed to ensure that UNRWA fulfils its role, in accordance with its United Nations mandate. Above all, we need to safeguard the heritage and peace of Jerusalem, a city holy to billions of people around the world.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“What could possibly be the future of the single, binational State that some propose, whose very foundation is a rejection of the equality of its own people? That is the ugly and undemocratic reality of the one-State idea. It is by no means an alternative to a two-State peace settlement. It is an abandonment of peace, a new way to go AWOL from the work of reconciliation and the opposite of what both sides need and have sought for so long. There is no such thing as a unilateral agreement; it takes at least two parties to make an agreement. Helping the parties to achieve that agreement and work together to build a new future deserves the strong and steady support of all our world. Our countries need to pull together to get the peace process back on track.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“The United States Administration has long been committed to peace and has a leading role in our progress going forward. Yes, we have a long way to go. But we cannot give up because the task is hard, because what is the alternative? Can we afford to let one of the world’s most strategic regions be tied to an endless cycle of violence in its midst? How long must Jerusalem, a city holy to more than half the world’s people, face dangers to its multi-faith heritage and identity? How can we accept a status quo of continuing crises and bigotry? Palestinian families have been displaced for generations, their children’s very identity denied, and Israeli families are living in continuing national self-isolation, without the security of peaceful relationships worldwide.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“That is the heart of the two-State settlement and the only path to a comprehensive, lasting peace. Only a two-State solution based on international law and the relevant United Nations resolutions can meet the needs of both sides: an end to the conflict; a viable, independent, sovereign Palestinian State on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital; and a secure Israel, fully part of its own region, recognized by Arab and Muslim States around the world. Arab and Muslim countries are committed to a comprehensive peace. The Arab Peace Initiative has been on offer for more than 16 years. Indeed, every major country in the world, the United Nations and the European Union all have worked to help the parties reach a durable peace that can last.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“A world where crises are not resolved, but magnified? A world where violence spreads and more refugees flee, because we cannot work together to help people stay safe and thrive? We have a long way to go to deliver global opportunity and hope, but we cannot simply give up because the task is hard. All our countries benefit when we unite in common cause. I am compelled to talk about this today, because of the critical role of collective action in ending the serious crises in my region, and especially the key crisis — the long denial of a Palestinian State. Every United Nations resolution — whether from the General Assembly or the Security Council — since the beginning of the crisis recognizes the equal rights of the Palestinian people to a future of peace, dignity and hope.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“It is an honour to take part in the general debate of the wonderful General Assembly once again. The United Nations was born from the ashes of the Second World War, out of a deep desire to protect new generations from suffering, destruction and want. Today, those hopes still face challenges. Peace and stability have met threats in every region, too many people remain excluded from the promise of prosperity, and global terror continues to target all nations. Here in this Hall, I have called our current situation a third world war. Those challenges do not make collective action and mutual respect less important; if anything, they make our partnership even more important, because what is the alternative? A world without the peace and accord we need to work together, trade together and expand opportunity together?”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“Together, in the General Assembly and in our regions, countries and communities across the world, we have the power to create that counter-narrative. Let us show that we also have the will to act.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“We utterly reject attacks on Muslim and Christian holy sites and any attempts to alter the historic Muslim, Christian and Arab identity of the Holy City. As the Custodian of Islamic Holy Sites in Jerusalem, I will continue my efforts to protect those places and stand up against all violations of their sanctity, including attempts to establish temporal and spatial divisions restricting free use of the Al-Aqsa Mosque on Haram Al-Sharif. Perhaps the central and most vital battleground for this defining war of our generation is the mind. The despicable, damaging ideology of hate, murder and self- destruction that is being spread in crash courses online and elsewhere must be confronted with a counter- narrative of hope, tolerance and peace.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“We cannot decisively defeat the scourge of terror and violence without decisively rooting out the injustices that provide it with fertile ground. From the Abu Ghraib prison to the streets of Kabul and schools in Aleppo, injustice and humiliation have left tremendous human suffering in their wake. No injustice has spread more bitter fruit than the denial of a Palestinian State. I believe that peace is a conscious decision. Israel has to embrace peace, or eventually be engulfed in a sea of hatred in a region of turmoil. Safeguarding Jerusalem is a key concern, as the Holy City is a strategic linchpin not only for my region but for the world. That is a priority for me personally and for all Muslims.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“In Syria, a military approach will leave no winners, but only losers on every side and further civilian suffering. Ending violence ultimately demands a political process — one shepherded by a unified global vision and led by all of the Syrian people. In Iraq, international support remains critical as the Government and the people continue to uproot the khawarij. However, key to achieving and sustaining any success is an inclusive approach that engages all components of the country in the political process and in State institutions. As we pursue those goals, the international community must also take responsibility for those whose lives have been crushed and who have been impoverished. I am referring to the millions of refugees and victims.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“Our adversary has brought the fight to every place where humans live and interact: airports, cafes and city streets. Security cooperation is imperative, but equally important is a holistic approach. We need to open up new channels between continents and nations, within countries and among people. That means reforming the way we communicate, share information and use our technologies. The very same modern communication tools used against us must be employed by us, and we can do that while respecting the important issue of privacy. Creative innovators in the private sector, especially in the technology sector, are vital for our future and must be brought on board. Ours is a global fight. The focus must not stop with the Middle East, but must reach far beyond into West and East Africa, South-East Asia and the Balkans.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“To confront this non-traditional enemy, we need non-traditional means, a new mindset, new partnerships and reformed methodologies. For Muslims, first and foremost this is a fight for our future. All elements of our community have a role to play, not only in mosques and religious centers, but media, schools, and communities. Let no one be misled: traditional Sunni Islam and all of its schools of jurisprudence decisively reject the ideas and claims of the takfiri jihadists. Muslims need to help identify and counter the outlaws of Islam who pick and choose and cut and paste religious texts in order to twist and distort true Islamic teaching. The international community also faces a fight for the future. The war will not be fought on the battlefield alone.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“Once we understand that this is a battle that we must fight together — all religions and all of us who believe in the dignity, freedom, and well-being that is the birthright of every individual — then we can turn towards our common enemy and examine through a clear lens the unique nature of our foe. Let me state clearly that those radical outlaw groups do not exist on the fringes of Islam. They are altogether outside of it. Thus, we refer to them as khawarij: outlaws of Islam. They declare the entire civilized world as the enemy and all people, military or civilian, as fair game. They aim to incubate satellite caliphates in every country of the world in order to extend their reach. They are also expanding fast and wide through their mastery and exploitation of modern technology, including social media.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“God says in the Koran: “Say Ye: ‘We believe in Allah, and the revelation given to us, and to Abraham, Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob, and the tribes, and that given to Moses and Jesus, and that given to the Prophets from their Lord: We make no difference between one and another of them: and we submit to Allah.’” (The Holy Koran, II:136) Indeed, the prophet mentioned most in the Koran is Moses, named 136 times. Jesus, whom we call “Christ Messiah,” is named 25 times. His mother, Mary, called “best of all women in creation,” is named 35 times, and there is a chapter in the Quran called Maryam. The khawarij deliberately hide these truths about Islam in order to drive Muslims and non-Muslims apart. We cannot allow that to happen.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“When the outlaws of Islams, the khawarij, murder, when they plunder, when they exploit children and reject the equality of women before God, they abuse Islam. When the khawarij persecute minorities, when they deny freedom of religion, they abuse Islam. Islam teaches that all humanity is equal in dignity. There is no distinction among the various nations or religions or races. The Quran forbids coercion in religion. Every citizen is guaranteed the State’s protection for themselves, their families, their properties, their honour, their privacy, and their freedom of religion and thought. Muslims believe in the divine origins of the Bible and the Torah.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“False perceptions of Islam and of Muslims serve to fuel the terrorists’ agenda of a global struggle by polarizing and factionalizing societies East and West — each side stigmatizing the other and each side driven deeper into mistrust and intolerance. Muslims, a quarter of the world’s population and citizens of every country, have a central role in the future of our planet. Muslim men and women bring the world a rich heritage of civic responsibility, justice, generosity, family life, and faith in God. When some, out of prejudice or ignorance of what Islam is, seek to exclude Muslims from fulfilling their role, or on the other hand, when the outlaws of Islam, the khawarij, attempt to mislead some Muslims by deforming our religion through false teachings, our societies’ future is put at risk.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“Most important, are we doing what must be done to confront and decisively defeat this evil force, so that our children can live in a world where fear and suspicion are replaced by human comradery and hope, so they can reach their fullest potential and add to the stockpile of human achievement accrued over the ages? As much as I wish it were otherwise, sadly the answer to those questions is no. How can we be effective in this fight when we have not clearly defined who the enemy is? Who are we fighting with, and who are we fighting against? And I am struck today, after several years of facing the global war on terror, by the lack of understanding of the true nature of Islam that I find among many Western officials, think tanks, media leaders and policymakers. I find myself stating the obvious again and again.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“As we gather here today, there are forces at play in my region and beyond whose sole purpose is to stack the odds against the core values that bind our common humanity. I am referring, of course, to the network of extremist terrorists who have dominated headlines of late. And they seek global dominance as well. They want to wipe out our achievements and those of our ancestors, to erase them and drag us back to the Dark Ages. The question we must ask ourselves as we face the battle of our generation is what our legacy will be. Will we pass on to our children a world dominated by dread and division, where safety and security will be at the forefront of their minds as they board an airplane, attend a concert or football match, or stroll through a mall?”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“Allow me to express today my highest regard for Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for his dedication and tireless efforts to advance the cause of peace and global harmony. I have deeply appreciated our work together over the past 10 years. As I stand here today, elections to Jordan’s national Parliament are coming to a conclusion. It is one more step on our country’s positive evolutionary path — a path to which we have insistently conformed despite regional turbulence and a massive refugee burden. It represents an achievement that can be credited largely to our citizens, especially our youth, who have stubbornly held to Jordan’s heritage of unity, strength and forward- looking spirit in spite of the odds. And it is those very odds that make the elections a true triumph of progress over regression.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“God willing, our countries and peoples will achieve those seven steps and many more.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“It is high time for the international community to act collectively in facing this unprecedented humanitarian crisis and to provide support to countries such as Jordan and Lebanon, which have been carrying the brunt of that burden over the past four years. In all these areas, we must act, and act collectively, for the future of our world. And connectivity is key. The values we share — equality, compassion and hope — need to be connected to everything we do. And we must keep ourselves connected to each other, for the good of all. These bonds are the power and promise of our United Nations. Here, together, we can and must create the future our people need — a safer, stronger world of coexistence, inclusion, shared prosperity and peace. Seven steps can bring us closer to our destination.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“Today, we are still facing huge shortfalls, cuts and threats to vital United Nations programmes and agencies, including the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the World Food Programme. Today, we are haunted by the images of thousands of refugees on the shores and borders of Europe, seeking hope, far away from their homeland. In Jordan, we have been faced with that challenge since the beginning of the Syrian crisis. Today, Syrian refugees alone constitute 20 per cent of my country’s population. We have been relieving the international community of a significant part of the burden of that humanitarian disaster since the beginning. Support to our country has been a small fraction of the cost we have endured.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“Lastly, there is hyperconnectivity. In our era, connectivity defines how we live and interact in our work, our communities, our schools and our lives. Only a few years ago, we were introduced to the Internet of computers; now, we talk about the Internet of things. But over them all must be the Internet of humankind — a hyperconnection, bringing us together in collective consciousness and common cause. By gathering here today, we acknowledge that the power of working together far exceeds any individual effort. Our great General Assembly must address urgent world issues: sustainable and inclusive development that can deliver more opportunities, especially to young people, and peaceful, political solutions to regional crises. It is the world’s obligation to find solutions and provide relief for the millions of refugees in my region.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“But moderation does not mean accepting those who trample on others and rejecting all those who differ. Today’s global fight is not between peoples, communities or religions. It is between all moderates of all faiths against all extremists, in all religions. Leaders of every country, every belief and every neighbourhood need to take a clear and public stand against intolerance of any kind. That includes respecting all places where God is worshipped, whether mosque, church, synagogue or temple. And nothing can be more important and can have more impact in framing this respect and coexistence than Jerusalem. The Hashemite custodianship of Jerusalem’s Islamic and Christian holy sites is a sacred duty, and we join Muslims and Christians everywhere in rejecting threats to the holy places and the Arab character of that Holy City.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“When we examine the motives of those outlaws, the khawarij, and, indeed, the motives of extremists on all sides, we find hunger for power, control of people, of money and of land. They use religion as a mask. Is there a worse crime than twisting God’s word to promote one’s own interests? Is there a more despicable act than feeding on the vulnerable and innocent, to recruit them to one’s ranks? In the global Muslim community — 1.7 billion good men and women, one quarter of humankind — today’s outlaw gangs are nothing but a drop in the ocean. But a drop of venom can poison a well. We must protect the purity of our faith from worldly contamination. As Muslims, this is our fight, as it is our duty. Sixthly, by all means, let us be intolerant of intolerance. Extremists rely on the apathy of moderates.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“Thirdly, let us act upon our beliefs. And here, I mean more than praying, fasting or zakat — giving alms. I mean integrating our values into every part of our daily lives and every hour of every day. By loving our neighbour, showing respect to those different from us and being kind to our own children, each one of us can do something to reflect the spirit of our Creator. Fourthly, let us amplify the voice of moderation. It is one of the greatest ironies of our time that extremist voices use advanced media to propagate ignorant ideas. We must not let our screens, airwaves, broadband and social media be monopolized by those who pose the greatest danger to our world. We too must populate our media and, more important, the minds of our young people, with the purity and power of moderation. Fifthly, let us recognize deceit.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“What separates human beings is minuscule, compared to what we hold in common: deep values of love, peace, justice and compassion. “And My mercy embraces all things.” (The Holy Koran, VII:156) Secondly, let us change our tone. On my travels not long ago, I saw a roadside sign that said, “Fear God”. A few miles down the road, was another, saying the same thing, then another and then a final one, saying, “... Or you will go to Hell”, and I asked myself when and how did fear and intimidation creep so insidiously into our conversations, when there is so much more to be said about the love of God. Most people may think they have nothing to do with the hate expressed by extremists. But our world is also threatened when violence, fear and anger dominate our discourse, whether in school lessons, weekly sermons or international affairs.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“Jordan has been proud to work with Member States and their countries to spearhead global initiatives for tolerance and dialogue. That has been reflected in the Amman Message and A Common Word, and, four years ago, we helped to initiate the World Interfaith Harmony Week, an annual United Nations event to focus all people, especially young people, on the essentials of tolerance and coexistence. Those efforts must continue, and the United Nations has a central role. But all of us, as individuals and as leaders, must help build the road ahead. Let me suggest seven essential steps. First, let us get back to basics and to the essence and shared spirit of our respective faiths and creeds. It seems to me that we can sometimes lose sight of the larger picture.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“But before we ask how to achieve that objective, let us ask the following. What if they were not defeated? What would our world look like? Can we tolerate a future where mass murder, public beheadings, kidnapping and slavery are common practices? Where the persecution of communities is the law? Where humankind’s cultural treasures that have been preserved for thousands of years are systematically destroyed? I have called this crisis a third world war, and I believe we must respond with equal intensity. That means global collective action on all fronts. But let us make no mistake; the more important war is the one we wage on the battlegrounds of the heart, the soul and the mind. And, in this fight, all countries and all people must come together.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“It is an honour to stand before the General Assembly. I am here representing Jordan as a God-fearing and God-loving human being. I am here as a father who wants his children, like all others, to live in a compassionate and more peaceful world. Such a future is under serious threat from the khawarij, the outlaws of Islam, who operate globally today. They target religious differences, hoping to kill cooperation and compassion among the billions of people of all faiths and communities, who live side by side in our many countries. Those outlaw gangs use suspicion and ignorance to expand their own power. And worse still is the free hand they grant themselves to distort the word of God in order to justify the most atrocious of crimes. All of us here are united by our conviction that those forces must be defeated.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)