Extraordinary General Conference of Arab Writers Union condemns Qatar’s

The delegations participating in the Extraordinary General Conference of the Arab Writers Union, which was held in Al Ain, have condemned the Qatar regime for funding and supporting terrorism around the Arab world, while calling on writers, authors, cultural figures, and Arab cultural institutions and organisations to suspend their dealings with the Qatar and its institutions, until it has met all the demands of the boycotting countries.

The closing statement of the conference, which was presented today during a press conference that was held by Habib Al Sayegh, Secretary-General of the Arab Writers Union and Chairman of the Emirates Writers Union, denounced the destructive role of the Qatari Al Jazeera Channel, which represents the media component of "Takfiri" ideology while stirring hatred and interfering in the internal affairs of Arab countries, by promoting disorder and instigating murder.

The delegations saluted the efforts and victories in combatting Takfiri ideology and terrorism in Egypt, Syria, Libya, Iraq and Yemen while stressing that a political solution is the only option in Syria.

The statement also supported the UAE’s right to the three Iranian-occupied islands of Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Abu Moussa, and its efforts to regain the islands, either voluntarily or through the International Court of Justice while condemning Iranian interference in its affairs.

The conference saw the establishment of the "Cultural Creativity in Combatting Extremism and Terrorism Award," which will be awarded annually to notable efforts to counter extremist and terrorist ideology.

The Extraordinary General Conference of the Arab Writers Union also issued the "Al Ain Charter" at its conclusion.

The participants of the conference highlighted, through the Al Ain Charter, their appreciation for the initiatives of H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, to support culture and cultured Arab individuals, creators, authors and writers, through providing a headquarters for the Arab Writers Union in Sharjah and allocating a trust fund for cultured and creative people who are facing health and economic difficulties, as well as Sharjah’s hosting of cultural and literary discussions with European and African personalities and the establishment of an institute of African studies.

The participants also valued the initiative of Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, to fund the Cultural Creativity in Combatting Extremism and Terrorism Award.

The participants affirmed that the cultured Arab elite and Arab institutions and unions of writers and thinkers must increase their contributions and efforts to combat terrorism while creating new and effective cultural policies and programmes.