Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Tunisia, Iman Ahmed Al Salami visited, on Friday, the Ghriba synagogue on the island of Djerba (Governorate of Medenine), where the annual Jewish pilgrimage is held from May 4 to 9.
In a statement to the media on the sidelines of this visit, the diplomat said: "Tunisia is a land of tolerance where the island of Djerba is a model of this tolerance and peaceful coexistence, in a climate of security, stability, peace and harmony between the inhabitants of the island.
Accompanied by the governor of Medenine, Said Ben Zayed, the UAE ambassador met with the head of the Ghriba pilgrimage organising committee, Perez Trabelsi, and former Minister of Tourism, René Trabelsi, who welcomed the visit as "carrying several positive messages of respect, tolerance and peace".
Al Salami attended the different rituals inside the synagogue of Ghriba, getting acquainted with the history of this Jewish place of worship, considered to be the oldest synagogue in Africa.
The annual Ghriba pilgrimage started on Thursday with a massive participation "not equalled since 2010", according to Khadir Hania, head of the synagogue.
Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse