HRH Crown Prince highlights that the selection of Muharraq as the capital of Islamic culture reflects the Kingdom’s rich history

Manama, Apr. 23 (BNA): His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, today met with the Director General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), Dr Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri, at Riffa Palace. During the meeting, His Royal Highness expressed his pride on the selection of the city of Muharraq as the capital of Islamic culture, which reflects its unique cultural heritage within Bahrain’s rich history. His Royal Highness highlighted that the Kingdom of Bahrain takes pride in its ancient Arab and Islamic culture, heritage and history. His Royal Highness welcomed Dr Altwaijri to the Kingdom. Together, they reviewed the ongoing preparations and coordination between the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA) and the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), for the launch of the city of Muharraq as the capital of Islamic culture for 2018. This historic achievement reflects the importance of the city to global Islamic cultural heritage, and Bahrain will celebrate Muharraq’s status as the capital of Islamic culture throughout the course of 2018. His Royal Highness added that Muharraq’s selection as the capital of Islamic culture follows soon after the recognition of Bahrain's Pearl Road as a UNESCO World Heritage Site at the end of last year. His Royal Highness welcomed the Kingdom’s hosting of this important cultural celebration, which further emphasises Bahrain’s unique rich history and its location as a centre of knowledge, culture and coexistence in the region. His Royal Highness went on to note the ongoing cooperation efforts between BACA and ISESCO in the cultural and heritage fields. His Royal Highness praised the efforts of Dr Altwaijri in further strengthening ISESCO’s work, highlighting the importance of ISESCO’s role in serving Arab-Islamic culture and Islamic societies more broadly. In response, Dr Altwaijri expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to meet His Royal Highness, and for the support provided by His Royal Highness to ISESCO in its celebration of Muharraq as the Capital of Islamic Culture for 2018. Dr Altwaijri further noted the ongoing cooperation between ISESCO and the Kingdom of Bahrain, and praised Bahrain’s achievements in the cultural and heritage fields. The Director General of ISESCO further noted Bahrain’s distinctive cultural monuments, which serve as a testimony to the country’s unique heritage. President of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA), Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, also attended the meeting.