Religious and faith leaders launched on May 4^th an appeal to all educational and cultural institutions to promote the values of peace, dialogue, dignity, and diversity, continuing the tradition set in July 2015 when IPI hosted the first of these dialogues.

In a meeting attended by H.E. Shaikh Abdullah Bin Ahmad Al Khalifa, Undersecretary of Bahrain’s Foreign Ministry, Shaikh Khalifa Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Head of Dialogue Among Civilizations, imams, reverends, priests, pastors, scholars and other religious and faith representatives expressing their appreciation of the religious freedom in the Kingdom of Bahrain, met for an interfaith dialogue at IPI’s Middle East and North Africa office (IPI MENA).

Following discussions on the recent regional and international developments marked by the manipulation of religions by extremist movements, the interfaith meeting unanimously adopted a declaration whereby 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 vowed to cement their unity by their collective belief in the dignity of the human person, and the pursuit of peace, we renew our appeal to all religious leaders to promote tolerance and respect within their own faiths, and towards others.

The religious leaders reaffirmed their dedication to interfaith dialogue and committed to promote the culture of peace, mutual understanding, speak out against violent extremism, sectarianism, exclusion and segregation.

They emphasized the importance of value based education as a vital tool for promoting and maintaining peace and called on all educational and cultural institutions to promote the values of peace, dialogue, dignity, and diversity.

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

“No single cause deserves one single drop of blood,” they concluded.

At the end of the meeting, the participants adopted the declaration, “Interfaith Leaders Reiterate Commitment to Peace.”

Select Coverage:
“Faith leaders reject violence” (GDN, May 5, 2016)
“Interfaith leaders reiterate commitment to peace” (Bahrain News Agency, May 4, 2016)
“Interfaith leaders urge to promote values of peace” (Daily Tribune, May 5, 2015)

In Arabic:
“Religious representative call for promoting values of peace” (Al Watan, May 8, 2016)
“Interfaith leaders reiterate commitment to peace” (Bahrain News Agency, May 7, 2016)