Religious Tolerance Conference opens

Manama, Nov.15 (BNA): Bahrain's long-standing history of religious tolerance was the focus of a conference, which opened today at the Isa Cultural Centre. The two-day forum, which concludes tomorrow, is being held under the auspices of ICC board of trustees' chairman Shaikh Abdulla bin Khalid Al-Khalifa. Representatives of religions and sects in Bahrain attended the inaugural session, in the presence of members of the diplomatic corps, media and academic figures and leading community personalities. Addressing the opening session, ICC board of trustees' vice chairman, executive director and deputy patron Dr. Shaikh Khalid bin Khalifa Al-Khalifa welcomed the guests and participants. He underlined Bahrain's long-standing reputation as a beacon of religious tolerance communal cohesion and peaceful co-existence between all sects and social segments. He paid tribute to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa who followed in the steps of fathers and forefathers, in advocating unity in diversity and cultivating the spirit of closely-knit family. "Mosques, community centres (maatams), churches, and temples rise side by side, epitomizing Bahrain's cultural, racial, ethnic and religious diversity", he said, stressing the atmosphere of tolerance, peaceful co-existence, mutual respect and acceptance of others in Bahrain. Shura Council member Dr. Hala Ramzi stressed the importance of the forum, hailing Bahrain's long-standing heritage interreligious tolerance, paying tribute to Muslim, Christian and Jewish personalities for their efforts to foster the culture of dialogue between religions, civilizations and cultures. Akhbar Al-Khaleej editor-in-chief Anwar Abdulrahman highlighted the importance of the symposium which brings together representatives of different religions and sects. He urged religious leaders to assume their responsibilities and disseminate authentic precepts among ordinary people, warning against the dangers of political fanaticism, and the indoctrination of young people. Dr. Abdulla Ahmed Al-Maqabi also addressed the conference and praised the people of Bahrain for their history of religious co-existence, paying tribute to HM the King who spared no efforts to consolidate national unity and cultivate interfaith and social tolerance.