Bahrain's interfaith leaders urge to promote peace

Manama : Emphasising the importance of value-based education as a vital tool for maintaining peace, religious leaders yesterday appealed to all educational and cultural institutions to promote the values of peace, dialogue, dignity and diversity.

During an interfaith dialogue held at the International Peace Institute For the Middle East and North Africa (IPI, MENA), they expressed their appreciation of the religious freedom in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

IPI MENA Director Nejib Friji chaired the meeting in the presence of Head of Dialogue Among Civilizations and Bahrain’s Ambassador to Kuwait Shaikh Khalifa bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Foreign Ministry Undersecretary for International Affairs Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmad Al Khalifa, imams, priests, pastors, scholars and other religious representatives. 

The interfaith meeting unanimously adopted a declaration in which they noted a global awareness and firm rejection of all acts of violence made in the name of religions. 

 They renewed their determination to put all efforts to curb all forms of incitement to hatred, terrorism and the violation of the right to life. 

The religious leaders reiterated their dedication to interfaith dialogue, and committed to promote the culture of peace, mutual understanding, rejection of extremism and sectarianism.

  They also stressed the need for the involvement of women and youth in such dialogues and peace processes.