HM King’s civilised approach to achieve peace and progress a fulfilment of his vision and directives

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

The vision and directives of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa have formed a distinguished civilised approach and contributed to high international achievements.

Council of Representatives Speaker Fawzia bint Abdullah Zainal said that the accomplishments were made possible through specific humanitarian and global projects, initiatives and programmes based on promoting tolerance and coexistence, rejecting terrorism and intolerance, and combating violence and extremism.

They, in fact, composed a leading Bahraini success story within the Kingdom’s comprehensive development process, she said. The Speaker pointed that the efforts of the government headed by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, in taking all measures, decisions, laws and legislation and supporting the international community in combating terrorism and extremism in all their forms and manifestations.

The measures also supported the culture of coexistence, tolerance and pluralism as well-established national values in Bahrain, the Speaker said during a virtual meeting with Dr Reinhold Lopatka, Chairman of the High-Level Advisory Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union on Combating Terrorism and Violent Extremism.

Zainal extended an invitation to Lopatka to visit Bahrain and view the progress and development of the democratic process in the Kingdom.

She also expressed the willingness of the Bahraini Parliamentary Division to host the meetings of the International Parliamentary Committee and Dr Lopatka’s efforts and initiatives in enhancing international and Arab parliamentary cooperation.

Zainal referred to the efforts of the legislative branch in Bahrain to discuss, debate and enact modern laws aimed at protecting society from acts of terrorist, confronting platforms of incitement and violence, and increasing awareness, education and commitment to civil and legal practices.

The parliament is also committed to freedom of opinion and responsible expression, and the right to participate through constitutional institutions and strengthening community partnerships between citizens and legislative councils that express free popular will, she added.

The Speaker praised Bahrain’s progress in confronting terrorism and countering extremism, enacting laws to protect society and youth from the effects and repercussions of fanaticism and sedition platforms, and launching awareness-raising initiatives and programs, strategic plans, educational programmes, curricula to protect society and boost its cohesion and strengthening national identity and the sense of belonging and loyalty.

The international community is required today to combat terrorism and extremism by preventing duplicity practiced by some parties that justify terrorism and terrorist acts and support the discourse of intolerance and extremism.

Human rights organisations and parliamentary councils are also called upon to value the importance of cooperation with states, societies, and parliamentary institutions and to ensure they are committed to accuracy and objectivity before they issue one-sided statements that invariably lead to an increase in terrorism, intolerance and extremism because they are detached from reality.

Lopatka congratulated Zainal on her election as a representative of the Arab Parliamentary Group of the High-Level Advisory Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, stressing that her presence in the group is an advantage to international parliamentary action.

The two sides reviewed ways to strengthen international parliamentary cooperation and to coordinate international parliamentary positions to support the fight against terrorism and extremism. They also discussed issues and topics of common interest.