Francis Accepts Award from Dictatorship
It is named after Abu Dhabi Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan (+2004), the Founder of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), one of the wealthiest men of his time (net worth: $20 billion).
The UAE strictly controls any Muslim activity more than any other religion in the UAE, presenting itself as “moderate Islam” in order to label the opposition as “extremist” and to justify the existing dictatorship.
There are no democratic institutions in the UAE. Islam is state religion, there are laws against blasphemy, evangelising and converting from Islam. Building bell towers and displaying crosses on roofs is forbidden. There are more than 700 Christian congregations but only 45 church buildings.
Of the 9.1 Abu Dhabi residents only 11% are citizens. There is no path to citizenship. Since the country is a US satellite no Western oligarch – including Francis - worries about all of this.
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