Interfaith leaders reiterate commitment to peace

Manama, May 4 (BNA): Religious and faith leaders today launched an appeal to all educational and cultural institutions to promote the values of peace, dialogue, dignity, and diversity. In a meeting attended by Shaikh Abdullah bin Ahmad Al-Khalifa, Foreign Ministry Undersecretary for International Affairs, Shaikh Khalifa Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Head of Dialogue Among Civilizations, imams, reverends, priests, pastors, scholars and other religious and faith representatives expressing their appreciation of the religious freedom in the Kingdom of Bahrain, met for an interfaith dialogue. Following discussions of the recent regional and international developments marked by the manipulation of religions by extremist movements, the interfaith meeting unanimously adopted a declaration whereby they noted a global awareness and firm rejection of all acts of violence made in the name of religions. They renewed their determination to exert all efforts to curb all forms of incitement to hatred, terrorism and the violation of the right to life. They vowed to cement their unity by their collective belief in the dignity of the human person, and the pursuit of peace, calling on all religious leaders to promote tolerance and respect within their own faiths, and towards others. The religious leaders reaffirmed their dedication to interfaith dialogue and committed to promote the culture of peace, mutual understanding, speak out against violent extremism, sectarianism, exclusion and segregation. They emphasized the importance of value-based education as a vital tool for promoting and maintaining peace and called on all educational and cultural institutions to promote the values of peace, dialogue, dignity, and diversity. They stressed the need for the involvement of women and youth in such dialogues and in peace processes. The participants issued the following declaration: "We, representatives of different faiths, appreciate the religious freedom in the Kingdom of Bahrain, meet for an interfaith dialogue. Encouraged by the global awareness and firm rejection of all acts of violence made in the name of religion, we renew our determination to put all efforts to curb all forms of incitement to hatred, terrorism and the violation of the right to life. United by our collective belief in the dignity of the human person, and the pursuit of peace, we renew our appeal to all religious leaders to promote tolerance and respect within their own faiths, and towards others. Dedicated to interfaith dialogue, we commit to promote the culture of peace, mutual understanding, speak out against violent extremism, sectarianism, exclusion and segregation. We reiterate our strong commitment to serve as one the cause of peace by reinforcing our solidarity and to further promote inter-religious dialogue. We renew our attachment to the freedom of speech, freedom of the press and the freedom of expression, while encouraging the respect of cultural and religious distinctions. We further emphasize the importance of value based education as a vital tool for promoting and maintaining peace; We call on all educational and cultural institutions to promote the values of peace, dialogue, dignity, and diversity. We encourage the involvement of women and youth in such dialogues and in peace processes. We believe that interfaith dialogue contributes to cooperation across cultures and regions and therefore reduces the risks of conflict. We reiterate our rejection of attempts to instrumentalize religion to foment conflict and call on all faith leaders to act accordingly in words and deeds." The declaration was endorsed by Dr. Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, Undersecretary of International Affairs, MOFA, Rev. Hani Aziz, National Evangelical Church Pastor, Shaikh Khalifa bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Dialogue Among Civilizations, Shaikh Ahmad Salman, Muslim Community, Rev. Dennis Barger, Saar Fellowship, National Evangelical Church, USA, Rev. Alfredo K. Cudiamat, National Evangelical Church, BCF, Philippines, Rev. Isaac Inayat National Evangelical Church, Urdu, Pakistan, Rev. M. Syam Suneel, National Evangelical Church, Pastor, Job Nelson, National Evangelical Church, Arabic Congregation, Rev. Soonpyo Kwon, Korean Congregation, Sushil Muljimal, Hindu Temple, Chairman, Rev. Father Varghese Yohannan, St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Rev. Sam Mathew, Mar Thoma, Parish, Dr. Girish Chandran, Hindu Community, U.K. Menon, Hindu Community, Rev. Thomas Mathew, The Bahrain Malayalee CSI Parish, Priest, Kurian Mathai, The Bahrain Malayalee CSI Parish, Solly Kurian, The Bahrain Malayalee CSI Parish, Dr. Abdulla Al Moghabi, Muslim Community, Rev. P. Sam Blessing, Bahrian Tamil Christian Congregation, Najah Sanqoor, Interfaith NGO, Shams, Fr. Eldhose Skariah, St. Peters Jacobite Syrian Church, and Nancy Elly Khedouri, Jewish Community.