Foreign Minister: Bahrain inspiring model for promoting peace, religious tolerance

London, July 5 (BNA): Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, has highlighted the Kingdom of Bahrain’s efforts to consolidate tolerance, dialogue and common understanding among all religions, cultures and civilisations. He also asserted the Kingdom’s respect for human rights and religious freedoms, following the directives of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. During his participation in the International Ministerial Conference on Freedom of Religion or Belief in London, the Minister expressed his pleasure to participate in this event, shedding light on the civilised record of the Kingdom of Bahrain throughout the years in ensuring freedom of religion and belief, and openness to others of all religions and races, given its strategic location as a financial and commercial centre in the world. The Minister further reiterated that thanks to the wise leadership of His Majesty the King, and the efforts of the government, led by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Bahrain has strengthened its pioneering successes as an inspiring model in respecting the rights of citizenship and establishing the values of love and religious, sectarian and ethnic tolerance under the state of law and institutions, as well as spreading the culture of peace and human fraternity in its regional and international surroundings. He stressed that the freedom to practise religious rites is guaranteed to all within a framework of friendship and mutual respect among the followers of different religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds. He pointed out to the presence of mosques, churches and other places of worship, such as a synagogue, a Hindu temple and another for Sikhs, and the most recent is the inauguration of Our Lady of Arabia Cathedral last December in Awali. He added that the National Human Rights Plan (2022-2026) discusses the promotion of religious freedoms, peaceful coexistence between religions and cultures, acceptance of the other, and the promotion of national harmony and unity through educational, media, religious and legislative programmes and initiatives of the Kingdom, in accordance with the constitution, the principles of the National Action Charter and the “National Plan to Promote the Spirit of National Belonging and Consolidation of Citizenship Values (Bahrainouna). The Minister further praised the Kingdom of Bahrain’s pioneering initiatives at the regional and global levels by organising international conferences for dialogue among religions, beliefs and civilisations over two decades, the most recent of which this year was the “Broadening the Tent: Freedom of Religion and Belief” (FORB) conference with the participation of diplomatic, parliamentary and religious figures from Europe, after the inauguration of the “Declaration Kingdom of Bahrain” in July 2017 as a global document to promote tolerance and religious freedom, the establishment of the King Hamad Global Centre for Peaceful Coexistence, the King Hamad Chair for Studies on Dialogue, Peace and Interfaith Coexistence at the Italian University of La Sapienza, and other initiatives in support of dialogue and religious tolerance. Dr. Al-Zayani also noted the Kingdom of Bahrain’s commitment to protecting freedom of religion and belief, deepening international partnership in safeguarding religious and intellectual rights and freedoms, and rejecting division, fanaticism, and religious, sectarian or racial hatred, as basic guarantees for respecting human rights, and consolidating regional and global peace in the face of violence, extremism and terrorism. He further affirmed the importance of constructive cooperation among nations, peoples and civilisations in support of sustainable development in a world in which the spirit of love and human fraternity prevails.