The Chairman of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs of Bahrain expresses appreciation for the role of the Muslim Council of Elders in consolidating values of fraternity and for its participation in organizing Bahrain Forum for Dialogue
Chairman of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs of Bahrain: Bahrain has carried the message of pluralism and peace to the whole world and presented on its land unprecedented examples of constructive coexistence among all people
Chairman of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs of Bahrain: Respect for religious peculiarities and religious freedom are among the most important factors of co-existence
His Excellency Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, Chairman of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain, welcomed His Eminence Prof. Ahmed al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, and His Holiness Pope Francis, Pope of the Catholic Church, for their participation in the Bahrain Forum for Dialogue, held by the Kingdom of Bahrain under the auspices of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the King of Bahrain. He appreciated the efforts of the Muslim Council of Elders for its participation in the organization of this Forum which promotes peaceful coexistence. He prayed to the Almighty Allah to help us in serving humanity through dialogues that aim at consolidating the culture of coexistence and rendering it into a true message adopted by governments, organizations and peoples.
His Excellency Sheikh Khalifa conveyed to the audience the greetings of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the King of Bahrain, and his wishes for the success of the Forum. He pointed out that the Kingdom of Bahrain, under the leadership of His Majesty the King, has carried the message of pluralism, coexistence and peace to spread it throughout the world, meeting with all International efforts in this field, based on Bahrain’s firm belief in the importance of this message for good throughout the world.
“Bahrain enjoys a unique diversity that is one of the most important sources of development and cultural construction in Bahrain, where many religions, sects and ethnicities have lived peacefully, and formed wonderful images of constructive coexistence. Here, mosques, churches, synagogues and temples, all exist next to each other and each individual or group practices their worship and rituals freely and safely. The value of coexistence is rooted as a part of the inherent principles of Bahraini people,” Khalifa added.
Khalifa pointed to two main factors of coexistence in communities: firs; Respect for religious and sectarian peculiarities, since respecting these peculiarities makes countries accept pluralism. Respect renders pluralism into a cultural factor for construction and development. The second factor is religious freedom. He pointed out that the Kingdom of Bahrain enjoys wide space of religious freedom that is not limited to granting religious freedom, but rather supporting, ensuring, and consolidating freedom and religious rituals, considering this freedom as a civilized face of the country and its people.
At the end of his speech, Khalifa called for solidarity and cooperation to support the values of goodness, coexistence and peace in order to respond responsibly to the advocates of sedition, incitement and hatred, and to stand united to spread stability, supported by our common sense and all religions, values, principles and ethics.
The Bahrain Forum for Dialogue “East and West for Human Coexistence” is hosted by the Kingdom of Bahrain on Thursday and Friday, November 3-4, under the auspices of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the King of Bahrain, and with the participation of His Eminence Prof. Ahmed al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, His Holiness Pope Francis, Pope of the Catholic Church, as well as about 200 figures including representatives of world religions and prominent intellectual and media figures.