Shura Council discusses 'national values and identity'

The Shura Council held its weekly session Monday in Tamim bin Hamad Hall, headed by its Speaker HE Hassan bin Abdullah al-Ghanim.At the beginning of the session, the Council expressed its sincere condolences and sympathy to the brotherly Syrian and Turkish people, for the victims of the earthquake that struck several areas in the two countries, expressing solidarity with them in the difficult circumstances, asking God Almighty to give the families of the victims patience and solace, and to grant the injured a speedy recovery.After that, the Council reviewed the report of the Cultural Affairs and Information Committee on "promoting national values and identity in society". After extensive discussions of the conclusions of the report, the Council decided to submit a proposal to the government on the aforementioned subject.Commenting on the report, HE al-Ghanim emphasised the important role of religious values, family upbringing, and the educational environment in promoting sound values in society.He added: "The mosque represents the first school in promoting and preserving the values of young people from the causes of corruption and alienation, and promoting religious values of society as a whole, while majlises, in addition to following prominent societal models, play an important and pivotal role in refining the personality and translating the lofty religious values that the individual carries to be reflected in his behaviour, appearance and actions."As part of their interventions during the discussion, the Council members focused on a number of axes, procedures and measures that will contribute to strengthening national values and identity.They emphasised the necessity of issuing a national document of national values and identity at the state level, as a comprehensive reference for all official and unofficial bodies that have a role and influence. They also pointed out the importance of having a long-term strategy to promote national values and identity in its various dimensions, in accordance with Qatar National Vision 2030, and the need to include them as a subject in national universities.The members of the Council stressed that consolidating national values and identity would build a strong society armed with religious and moral values, stressing in this context the need for concerted efforts by all parties to achieve the goal.After that, the Council reviewed a draft law regulating fishing ports, which was referred to it by the government, and decided to refer it to the Public Services and Utilities Committee for study and submission of its report thereon to it. The members also reviewed the report of the Council's participation in the international symposium held in the Moroccan capital, Rabat, in July last year under the title "Sovereignty and food security between the challenges of the global economy and the challenges of strategic security".The Council approved requests to extend the work of a number of its committees, including a request to extend the work of the Internal and External Affairs Committee to study the issue related to the European Parliament's decision on human rights in Qatar within the framework of hosting the World Cup.At the end of the session, HE the Speaker briefed the Council on the results of his participation in the work of the 5th Arab Parliament Conference, which was held on Saturday in Cairo.HE the Speaker touched on the Council's preparations to participate in the State's Sport Day Tuesday, stressing the importance of everyone's participation in this sporting event.He called on all citizens and residents to seize the opportunity to make sport a priority and a continuous lifestyle that is practiced regularly throughout the year.