Bahrain’s religious tolerance hailed

Manama : Bahrain’s high level of religious freedom was acknowledged by an American commission in its recent report.

The 2016 report of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), an independent bipartisan US federal government commission, acknowledged the religious freedom enjoyed by minority communities in the Kingdom. The commission is tasked with reviewing violations of religious freedom around the world and providing policy recommendations to the US government.

The report identified Bahrain as one of the most tolerant in the region. 

“With a population of approximately 1.3 million, about half are Bahraini citizens and half are expatriate workers, primarily from South Asian countries. Almost half of the expatriate workers are non-Muslim (approximately 250,000-300,000). Bahraini citizens are estimated to be 60-65 per cent Shi’a and 30-35pc Sunni, with approximately one to two per cent non-Muslims, including Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, Jews, and Baha’is,” the annual report stated.

“Compared to other countries in the region, Bahrain is among the most tolerant of non-Muslim religious minority communities. The government officially recognises at least 19 Christian denominations, a tiny Jewish community, Hindus and Sikhs. A small Baha’i community is recognised as a social entity. Most Bahrainis acknowledge that their society has been historically tolerant of all faiths and religiously pluralistic to a degree that is notable in the region,” it added. 

Globally, religious freedom is under threat, according to the report.

“By any measure, religious freedom abroad has been under serious and sustained assault since the release of our commission’s last Annual Report in 2015. From the plight of new and longstanding prisoners of conscience, to the dramatic rise in the numbers of refugees and internally displaced persons, to the continued acts of bigotry against Jews and Muslims in Europe, and to the other abuses detailed in this report, there was no shortage,” stated the report.