The Kingdom of Bahrain Declaration 2017 was launched at a high-profile ceremony in Los Angeles early this morning.
This is Bahrain, which organised the event, also announced plans for the King Hamad Global Centre for Inter-Faith Dialogue and Peaceful Co-existence.
The event, which also featured an exhibition, was held under the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad and inaugurated on his behalf by The King's Representative for Charity Work and Youth Affairs Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, in
the presence of representatives from the White House and the UN, religious leaders and senior guests.
Before launching the declaration, Shaikh Nasser met a number of American students at the Museum of Tolerance at the invitation of Simon Wiesenthal Centre Rabbi Dean Marvin Hier.
Discussions explored the youth’s common aspirations to achieve intellectual rapprochement and contribute to working out innovative visions to build bridges of peace and tolerance.
Shaikh Nasser also toured the museum and was briefed on the international documents it has on religious tolerance.
The launch ceremony was presented by American TV personality Mary Hart.
The celebration also included speeches by Shaikh Nasser, Rabbi Hier Rev Johnnie Moore, Bahrain's Ambassador to Kuwait Shaikh Khalifa bin Hamad Al Khalifa and Bahrain Federation of Expatriate Associations (BFEA) secretary-general Betsy Mathieson.
Ms Mathieson said the proposed centre will further boost Bahrain’s standing as a hub for religious peace and co-existence.
She added that the centre aims to promote inter-religious and cultural dialogue to end conflicts and achieve reconciliation and peace.
She also noted that the centre also aims to counter misusing religious rostrums to justify violence and incite hatred between the communities.
The centre will be set up on land donated by the King and will comprise an exhibition showcasing historical and modern models on religious freedom and peaceful co-existence in Bahrain.
The declaration and the centre complement the launch of the King Hamad Chair in Inter-Faith Dialogue and Peaceful Co-Existence at Sapienza University in November last year in Rome.
&uuid=(email))