King Hamad Global Centre trustee highlights Bahrain's approach to dialogue and coexistence

Manama, Aug. 4 (BNA): Salah Yousif Al Jowder, Member of the Board of Trustees of the King Hamad Global Centre for Coexistence and Tolerance, highlighted Bahrain's approach to promoting dialogue and coexistence during a session on national, regional and international best practices in combating hate speech against Muslims at the second International Conference on Combating Discrimination against Islam and Muslims in Cairo.

The conference is organised by the General Secretariat of the Arab League in cooperation with the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (ICESCO) under the theme "Muslim Communities in the West and Their Role in Confronting Islamophobia."

Al Jowder said promoting coexistence and mutual respect is fundamental to combating hate speech and discrimination. He said the vision of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and the directives of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, have established an approach based on protecting human dignity, respecting religious freedom, and promoting dialogue and understanding among peoples and cultures to strengthen social security, stability and cohesion.

He said hate speech develops from stereotypes and prejudice into discrimination and exclusion, stressing that families, educational institutions, places of worship, the media, legislative bodies and civil society all have a shared responsibility to promote mutual respect and strengthen social cohesion.

Al Jowder said the Kingdom of Bahrain offers a model for promoting tolerance and coexistence through the King Hamad Global Centre for Coexistence and Tolerance, whose programmes, initiatives and regional and international partnerships support efforts to combat hate speech, promote dialogue and build more cohesive societies.