Bahrain takes a big step forward for peace

Los Angeles : The Kingdom of Bahrain Declaration and the King Hamad Global Centre for Interfaith Dialogue and Peaceful Coexistence were launched in Los Angeles, California yesterday under the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. 

His Majesty the King deputised His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Representative of His Majesty the King for Charity Works and Youth Affairs, to attend the ceremony. 

The launch of the centre follows the fruitful launch of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s chair at the University of La Sapienza, Rome, to teach dialogue, peace and interfaith understanding last year.

In his opening speech, HH Shaikh Nasser stressed that the Kingdom “recognises the importance of creating an environment conducive to peace by empowering individuals and communities to feel comfortable in their own skins”.

His Highness, however, pointed out that the responsibility to facilitate engagement and promoting inclusion isn’t only limited to states and governments.

“We all have a responsibility to contribute positively to this dynamics through small acts of kindness and care in our communities,” Shaikh Nasser said. 

“When you wave ‘Hello’ to your neighbour walking to church on Sunday or to the Synagogue on Saturday or to the mosque on Friday then you are an active agent for coexistence.”

Stressing the importance of practising such acts in daily lives, Shaikh Nasser said: “It’s those small acts of kindness that turn coexistence to an enshrined part of our DNA, an indispensable part of our being as humans.”

Expressing his pride to be a Muslim, an Arab and a human, Shaikh Nasser said: “‘Love thy  neighbour as thyself’ is a call to all of us to let down our guards and communicate constructively and empathetically with everyone around us.” 

“It’s through understanding that we shatter our misconceptions and presumptions about the ‘others’,” he said.