A haven for all faiths

Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, affirmed that religious freedom is an integral part of the history and identity of the Kingdom of Bahrain, adding that it is guaranteed by the Constitution and by the pioneering initiatives of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. He cited the Bahraini Declaration which reflects Bahrain’s experience in promoting religious freedom, in addition to the establishment of the King Hamad Global Centre for Peaceful Coexistence and the inauguration of the King Hamad Chair for Interfaith Dialogue and Peaceful Coexistence at the University of Sapienza in Rome.

“This represents a global model of peaceful coexistence and religious freedom in which assures the Kingdom of Bahrain’s commitment in preserving the nature of Bahraini society, its variety, diversity, tolerance, coexistence, openness and respect for different societies and peoples,” he said. He made the statement as he participated in the Ministerial conference to Advance Religious Freedom, held in Washington DC, organised by the US Department of State and attended by representatives of governments and civil society organisations from around the world.

He expressed his thanks and appreciation to the Secretary of State of the United States of America, Mike Pompeo, for hosting this important conference, which brings together a number of allies and friends from around the world to work to ensure religious freedom everywhere, and to protect this fundamental human right of all persons. He stressed the need to redouble the efforts of the international community to eliminate the rhetoric of extremism, hatred and sectarianism and adopt a collective stance to curb the spread of extremist ideas in media and various social networks, and to confront terrorist organisations such as Da’ash, Al Nusra, Hizbollah and others, which threaten the region and impose their struggle to preserve religious diversity and peaceful coexistence.

He also praised the efforts of the United States in combating these terrorist organisations, including the recognition of the seriousness of Hizbollah’s terrorist organisation and its keenness to work continuously with the allies in order to deter the party and all those who support or finance it. Separately, Shaikh Khalid, met with the US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, in the framework of the Minister’s official visit to the friendly United States of America.

Shaikh Khalid hailed the distinguished level of historic strategic bilateral relations between Bahrain and the friendly United States of America, which are constantly developing and flourishing at all levels. He added that this development reflects the priority given by both countries to these relations and their keenness on bolstering all means of bilateral cooperation, mainly in the fields of politics, security, military, economics, trade and other fields. Shaikh Khalid also expressed his appreciation of the central role played by the US in strengthening international cooperation and working with the countries in the region for their benefit, as well as solving all issues in a way that preserves their security and stability, wishing the US further progress and prosperity.

Pompeo expressed his pleasure to meet with Shaikh Khalid, stressing the keenness of the United States to enhance cooperation at all levels. He also expressed his appreciation of Bahrain for hosting the Peace to Prosperity workshop and all its crucial outcomes, hailing the efforts exerted by the Kingdom to establish peace and security in the region. Shaikh Khalid also held discussions with US President’s Senior Adviser Jared Kushner, on the sidelines of his official visit to the United States of America.

The Minister affirmed that the close friendship and strategic alliance between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the United States of America is witnessing continuous progress and broad diversification covering the various fields of political, security, economic and trade co-operation, which reflects the great importance and fruitful results of this cooperation in the interests of both countries and peoples, which also reflect a long history of friendly relations, joint work, co-ordination and continuous efforts to move forward to a broader horizons at all levels.

He commended the concrete and outstanding efforts of the US administration and Kushner to promote security and peace in the region and his great efforts to organise the Peace to Prosperity Workshop recently hosted by the Kingdom in support of the economy of the brotherly Palestinian people and achieve its aspirations for development and prosperity, confirming the support of the Kingdom of Bahrain for the efforts exerted by the United States of America for the benefit of the peoples of the region.