‘A land of tolerance’

Manama

Bahrain, thanks to its tolerant people and readiness to accept the others with their differences, represents an exceptional model for civilised and human societies, the Rt Revd Michael Augustine Owen Lewis, Archbishop of the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East, has said. He stressed that Bahrain has been known since ancient times for its unique tolerance and peaceful openness to the world.

The archbishop was speaking at a reception hosted in his honour by the King Hamad Global Centre for Peaceful Coexistence in Manama. Dr Shaikh Khalid bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, the chairman of the broad of trustees of the centre, said the centre was looking forward to enhancing cooperation with the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East.

The centre is also keen on discussing various aspects of coordination to help promote the values of tolerance and peaceful coexistence and guarantee religious freedoms in various regions, he added. “Since its foundation, Bahrain has been an international centre for tolerance and religious freedom.

It has boosted over the last decades its keenness to spread the noble principles of peace and coexistence among different adherents of religions and beliefs, based on the values and principles laid down by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa,” Shaikh Khalid said.

He stressed the role of the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East in enhancing the ties that bind the peoples of the region and in working to achieve further prosperity based on promoting the civilisational coexistence of cultures and on contributing effectively to the development of humanity at various levels.

The King Hamad Chair in Inter-Faith Dialogue and Peaceful Coexistence is a new Academic discipline and the first of its kind in the World. Designed to enlighten and engage young people from around the world as a means to combat terrorism, extremism and radicalisation, by studying the visionary leadership philosophy of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.

His Majesty’s philosophy is based on His Majesty’s belief that Religious Freedom is the foundation for Peaceful Coexistence with Inter-Faith Dialogue at its heart. Founded in 1303, Sapienza University in Rome is one of Europe’s most prestigious seats of learning and its multi-site campus is home to around 120,000 students.

With the launch of The King Hamad Chair, it is aimed to reach the hearts and minds of young people all over the world, providing them with the knowledge and inspiration to invoke peaceful coexistence and love on a global basis.