KUALA LUMPUR: All communities deserve safety from intolerance, says Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah.
In his royal address at the Regional Southeast Asia Human Dignity Conference 2024, he said that everyone, regardless of faith or background, should feel safe, respected, and included both at home and abroad.
Highlighting a concerning trend of religious persecution worldwide, including in regions that claim inclusivity, he said: "Minority populations often face daily indignities – whether it's offensive graffiti near their homes or insults based on their appearance or background."
Despite efforts by like-minded individuals to promote inclusion and religious freedom, Sultan Nazrin said that these ideals were not yet universally realised.
"Although human dignity is enshrined in world religions and international declarations, the goal of 'dignity for everyone, everywhere' remains unfulfilled," he said.
He called for continued global efforts to combat intolerance, stressing that even small acts of aggression against individuals represented attacks on human dignity.
"We must work to eradicate all forms of aggression, from the macro to the micro, as each one undermines human dignity," he added.
The conference, themed Dignity for Everyone, Everywhere, is organised in collaboration with the Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (Ikim), Brigham Young University, and the Religious Freedom Institute (RFI). It brings together interfaith representatives from both local and international communities to share best practices and success stories related to human dignity in Southeast Asia.