OASIS OF COEXISTENCE: Bahrain is strengthening its position as an oasis of love, harmony and coexistence among religions
BAHRAIN is strengthening its position as an oasis of love, harmony and coexistence among religions, cultures and civilisations, Foreign Minister Dr Abdullatif Al Zayani has said.
His Majesty King Hamad’s vision and the directions of the government headed by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa , Crown Prince and Prime Minister, have also made the country an active partner in laying the foundations of tolerance and regional and global peace, he said yesterday.
In a statement marking International Day for Tolerance, which falls today, Dr Al Zayani expressed Bahrain’s pride in its long history of openness, tolerance and convergence among civilisations.
Due to the King’s humane approach of respecting human rights and freedoms, everyone in Bahrain can practise their religious rites in safety, tranquility, pluralism, intimacy and harmony, he said.
Bahrain has the highest rate of mosques in the world in relation to the population, along with the largest Catholic church and the oldest Hindu temple in the region, a synagogue, and many places of worship for different religions, Dr Al Zayani pointed out.
The minister said the parliamentary and municipal elections in their sixth edition succeeded in presenting the most wonderful forms of cohesion among the members of society.
Turnout in the election was a record 73 per cent, which is the largest since the launch of the democratic process by His Majesty with the inauguration of the National Action Charter and the adoption of constitutional amendments.
Bahrain also successfully managed the global deadly Covid-19 epidemic in the spirit of one team and solidarity for the safety and progress of Bahrain, Dr Al Zayani said.
Dr Al Zayani said religious tolerance, respect for cultural diversity and acceptance of the other are a historical and civilisational value that Bahrain has inherited through generations.
Bahrain is determined to enshrine these values through the development of its legislation and policy that support the rights of citizenship and livelihood.
He pointed to the launch of the ‘Declaration of the Kingdom of Bahrain’ – a global document to promote religious tolerance and human coexistence – aimed at encouraging dialogue and rejecting hatred.
The minister also highlighted the signing of the the Abrahamic Accord and the follow-up of the King Hamad Global Centre for Peaceful Coexistence in its pioneering enlightening role.
In this regard, Dr Al Zayani valued the historical results of the Bahrain Forum for Dialogue: East and West for Human Coexistence, which was held earlier this month under the patronage of His Majesty, coinciding with the official visit of Pope Francis and with the participation of Muslim Council of Elders chairman and Al Azhar Grand Imam Dr Ahmad Al Tayyeb.
“Peace is our only way to hope for a future – peace, harmony and stability,” he said.
