Bahrain is successful Arab model in coexistence

By Noora Albinkhalil Manama, Nov. 1 (BNA): Prominent Christian figures in Bahrain said that the Bahrain Forum for Dialogue, being held under the patronage of HM King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, embodies Bahrain's strong commitment to the dissemination of a culture of peace, coexistence and compassion. In statements to Bahrain News Agency (BNA), the Christian personalities pointed out that the forum comes to promote the idea of ​​tolerance and dialogue among civilizations, cultures and religions as an alternative to extremism and brings together religious leaders and different civilizations and cultures. National Evangelical Church Pastor and Head of Al Bayareq Al-Baidha Society, Reverend Hani Aziz said that the forum is one of the most important events to bid farewell to a year and welcome a new year. The title and content of this forum is a genius, comprehensive and inclusive choice of the concept of peace and coexistence, he said. The reverend said that the forum came at a time when the world is in dire need of peaceful dialogue and new channels to solve regional and global problems. He stressed that the conference puts Bahrain in its deserved place for the peace-making and supportive countries of coexistence under the leadership of His Majesty the King. Alice Thomas Samaan said that the Bahrain Forum for Dialogue will produce a global outcome, especially since HM the King always focused on the call to establish the values ​​of coexistence and religious tolerance, as well as the highest authority in the Catholic Church HH Pope Francis, who believes in dialogue and tolerance between religions. She expressed her pride that Bahrain is part of the international endeavors to promote the principles of peace and coexistence between the religions of the East and the West. She also stressed that the presence of the Pope and Shaikh Al-Azhar will give the forum exceptional importance, and will shed light on the Kingdom’s moves in this aspect, especially since Bahrain has become a global model in embracing religious diversity and peaceful coexistence among the spectrum of society. Shura Council member Hala Ramzi Fayez and Vice Chair of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Women’s Office, said that the Bahrain Forum for Dialogue embodies the Kingdom’s approach in calling for the dissemination of a culture of peace. She stressed that the Kingdom’s hosting of this forum is a clear proof of the wise leadership’s absolute belief in the importance of dialogue and close cooperation in order to develop successful solutions, work to establish coexistence and peace, and promote relations with countries in their regional and international surroundings. She added that Bahrain has represented a successful Arab model in coexistence and dialogue among cultures for thousands of years. The Kingdom has been keen and its strategic direction to build bridges of dialogue between leaders of religions and sects and leaders of thought, culture and media, and in cooperation with Al-Azhar, the Catholic Church, the Muslim Council of Elders and a number of relevant international institutions. She pointed out that the forum is held to promote the idea of ​​tolerance and dialogue among civilizations, cultures and religions as an alternative to fanaticism and extremism, as it brings together religious leaders and different civilizations and cultures. She also pointed out that the forum aims to promote the principles of the Human Fraternity Document and the Bahrain Declaration Document, create a common ground based on common values, promote positive integration among all, and provide a general atmosphere suitable for spreading a culture of unity and coexistence. It also aims to send important messages to the world about the possibility of coexistence in peace and tolerance both within one state or different countries belonging to different civilizations, and depend on the idea of ​​diversity, acceptance of viewpoints, dialogue, tolerance and avoidance of conflict and extremism. Dr. Elie Flouty, Media Consultant at the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities said the visit of His Holiness reflects the importance of Bahrain in the contemporary history of humanity, the land that for thousands of years, witnessed the encounter of cultures and coexistence and where differences become rich in its pluralism. A resident in Bahrain does not feel that he is far from his homeland because he finds in it a second home and a family that embraces it in its uniqueness despite its differences, he said. "The organization of the Bahrain Forum for Dialogue is nothing but the fruit of His Majesty’s vision in giving the truest image of a land whose towns and villages witness this obvious and real meeting between the various components of society, where everyone lives in peace, security and respect," he said. Labiba Joseph Fares, desk editor at Al Bilad newspaper, said that the visit of Pope Francis to Bahrain and the participation with the Sheikh of Al Azhar Al Sharif in the East and West dialogue for Human Coexistence have many important implications. The Pope seeks to strengthen dialogue and coexistence between Christians and Muslims in all countries, and this is what we see in general from his visits around the world, she said. "The finest message on Earth is coexistence where the other is accepted, and when we accept it we reject all causes of hatred and the resulting violence and terrorism, which is what specifically consistent with the message of His Majesty the King on coexistence and peace," she said. The Pope has great respect and appreciates in particular the royal initiatives, in consolidating the foundations of peace in the Middle East as a whole, and his for the countries to give precedence to the language of dialogue over of resorting to disputes. "In Bahrain, everyone practices their religious rites and ideological celebrations with freedom, love and security. The Kingdom is now home to the largest Catholic Church in the Gulf region, which is the Our Lady of Arabia Cathedral in Awali," she said. "The Pope’s participation with Sheikh of Al-Azhar in the Forum for Dialogue, East and West is not new to us, as the Sheikh of Al-Azhar carries the same message about peace, which was clearly demonstrated during the signing by Pope Francis and Sheikh of Al-Azhar, the document "Human Fraternity" (the Abu Dhabi Declaration). "They called through it for spreading the culture of peace, and there is no better place than the Kingdom of Bahrain, the cradle of dialogue and coexistence among religions since ancient times, for their next meeting."