Bahrain Leads the Way in Interfaith Harmony

The Kingdom of Bahrain continues to stand out as a global beacon of tolerance and coexistence, championing human fraternity, freedom of belief, and respect for religious and cultural diversity, His Excellency Dr. Shaikh Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa said.

Speaking on the occasion of the Global Week of Interfaith Harmony, observed under the theme “United for Peace”, and the International Day of Human Fraternity, themed “Promoting Dialogue and Overcoming Division”, Shaikh Abdullah highlighted Bahrain’s long-standing commitment to building bridges between faiths and cultures. The international observances coincide with Bahrain’s celebration of the Year of Isa Al-Kabeer, honoring the legacy of the founder of the modern Bahraini state and a pioneer of institutional governance.

Shaikh Abdullah, Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the King Hamad Global Centre for Coexistence and Tolerance, noted that Bahrain’s achievements in this field are deeply rooted in the enlightened vision of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and the directives of His Royal Highness Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

He said Bahrain’s rich historical legacy and deeply ingrained humanitarian values have shaped a society where diversity is embraced and religious freedom is safeguarded. This approach, he added, has positioned the Kingdom as an international model for peaceful coexistence, earning it recognition in the Guinness World Records for having the world’s highest density of places of worship representing different religions.

According to Shaikh Abdullah, Bahrain’s experience demonstrates that citizenship, justice, and mutual respect are essential foundations for social cohesion and lasting peace. He stressed that interfaith harmony and human fraternity are not symbolic ideals, but practical pillars that contribute to community stability, international understanding, and global peace.

He further explained that Bahrain’s observance of international days dedicated to coexistence aligns with the royal vision of transforming shared human values into concrete policies and initiatives that promote tolerance while confronting extremism and division. Among the Kingdom’s flagship initiatives are the Bahrain Declaration on Freedom of Religion and Belief, calls for an international agreement to criminalize religious and racial hate speech, the King Hamad Award for Coexistence and Tolerance, and the hosting of high-level international forums on interfaith and intercultural dialogue.

Shaikh Abdullah also underlined the role of the King Hamad Global Centre for Coexistence and Tolerance in advancing these principles through specialized educational and leadership programs. These include the Postgraduate Diploma in Coexistence and the King Hamad Leadership Program for Coexistence, developed in partnership with international institutions to equip young leaders and faith-based, cultural, and educational bodies with the tools to manage diversity as a source of strength.