Manama, October 31 (BNA): “Ignorance is the first enemy of peace, so it is our duty to learn, share and live together through the principles of faith in a spirit of mutual respect and love.”
These expressions of wisdom and love came from His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa when he outlined Bahrain’s firm approach to peaceful coexistence, dialogue and openness to the world with all its religions, sects, cultures and ethnicities without discrimination or intolerance.
These inspiring words began the celebration of the launch of the “Declaration of the Kingdom of Bahrain and the King Hamad International Center for Interfaith Dialogue and Peaceful Coexistence” in Los Angeles in 2017.
His Majesty stressed, through its motivational meanings, the essence of the principles of the Kingdom’s internal and external policy based on the right of belief, religious practice, freedom of worship and living in Bahrain in peace, security, love and respect. .
Bahrain has made great efforts to build on these principles. No wonder Bahrain has for thousands of years enjoyed a unique experience of peaceful coexistence and embracing all religions, sects and cultures.
The Kingdom has become an ideal destination for expatriates to live in stability and freedom, with ample opportunities to practice their faith, interact with people from different countries, gain insight into the rich local culture, and contribute to the rich pluralism and multiculturalism that characterizes Bahrain.
The capital, Manama, stands as a living witness to this unique mosaic of all religions, sects, cultures and civilizations coexisting peacefully and positively.
For centuries, Manama has been at the center of a diverse human and cultural heritage. It became a melting pot of different cultures and a place of peaceful religious coexistence.
Manama led the way in the region as it hosted more than 120 houses of worship, churches, synagogues, synagogues… Many religious festivals are celebrated in the streets and shopping malls of the capital.
As one of the most important commercial centers in the region, Bahrain was a meeting point for thousands of people who came, worked, settled and found their destiny in safe places of worship.
The “Declaration of the Kingdom of Bahrain” initiative is one of the three inspiring initiatives launched by the “This is Bahrain” association, reflecting the depth of the Bahraini experience in promoting coexistence and interfaith dialogue and embodying the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Your Majesty in this field.
The launch of the King Hamad Global Center for Peaceful Coexistence in 2018 was an important starting point for the Kingdom to become a global hub for peace, understanding and interfaith dialogue.
The opening of the King Hamad Chair for Interreligious Dialogue and Peaceful Coexistence at Sapienza University in Rome – the oldest public university in Europe – is the third important initiative that clearly expressed the King’s interest in education and scientific research, as well as in enhancing Bahrain’s experience within the international community.
Initiatives have been powerful drivers of advancing interfaith dialogue, education and enlightenment as an effective means of combating terrorism, extremism, violence and hate.
His Majesty’s efforts in consolidating a culture of difference, respect for others and peaceful coexistence were not limited to launching initiatives.
It also dedicated international institutions, procedures and programs to the universal concept of peace and coexistence.
The King Hamad Global Center for Interfaith Dialogue and Peaceful Coexistence launched the “King Hamad Fellowship Program for Faith in Leadership” in cooperation with the universities of Oxford and Cambridge in Britain, and the King Hamad Peace Academy online to promote tolerance and coexistence among young people in New York.
As the official body charged with implementing interfaith programs and global peace efforts, the King Hamad Center for Peaceful Coexistence sought to launch and implement strategic programs for youth.
The premise is that education, training and awareness are formed from an early age to create conscious generations imbued with the values of peaceful coexistence, culture and science, and capable of facing various challenges that threaten peace in the world.
The “King Hamad Faith in Leadership” program enabled the graduation of 40 students in two batches as promising leaders in the future after enabling them to become ambassadors of the Kingdom of Bahrain in spreading the values of tolerance and peaceful coexistence regionally and globally.
In 2019, the King Hamad Center for Coexistence launched, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the “King Hamad Center for Cyber Peace to Promote Tolerance and Coexistence among Youth.”
An interactive online simulation platform allows participants to work in a virtual world individually or in teams to make decisions about how to respond to the issues and challenges of coexistence.
They include injustice, security threats, discrimination, crime, violence, religious intolerance, and others.
The program seeks to make young people pioneers in combating cyber terrorism, hate speech and extremism, in addition to putting an end to all forms of cyber incitement to commit acts of violence and terrorism using advanced technology.
To contribute to increasing regional and global awareness of the importance of respecting religions and accepting others to achieve peace and harmony among different peoples and societies, the King Hamad Center for Peaceful Coexistence launched in July 2021 the King Hamad Medal for Peaceful Coexistence.
The medal honors eminent personalities and international organizations for their support of the noble human values that Bahrain embraced hundreds of years ago and were consolidated during the prosperous reign of the King.
Thanks to the efforts of His Majesty the King and his far-sighted vision, Bahrain today enjoys a high degree of appreciation, respect and international praise for its efforts to promote peaceful coexistence among peoples, which contributes to the progress of societies and the dissemination of a culture of peace. In the world.
The world today more than ever needs to spread dialogue based on understanding and tolerance, regardless of differences between religions, sects, races and cultures. The focus should certainly be on what unites and brings people closer, and not on what divides them.
Here, His Majesty the King plays a pivotal role in achieving an enlightened, comprehensive and open vision of coexistence and world peace. There are also the diplomatic efforts made by the King Hamad Global Center for Peaceful Coexistence to enable generations to spread a culture of open dialogue and peaceful coexistence.
Thanks to the dedicated efforts of His Majesty the King, his wise vision and the hard work of the government headed by His Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Bahrain has succeeded in consolidating its firm principles.
Today, it enjoys a high degree of international recognition, respect and praise for its efforts to promote peaceful coexistence. among peoples in a way that contributes to the progress of societies and the dissemination of a culture of peace throughout the world.