London: Shaikh Fawaz bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the United Kingdom, met with David Smith MP, the United Kingdom Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief. The meeting focused on enhancing cooperation between the two nations in promoting a culture of peace, respect for religious freedoms, and coexistence among various nations and peoples.
According to Bahrain News Agency, Shaikh Fawaz emphasized Bahrain's commitment, under the guidance of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, to advance international partnerships that foster tolerance and religious diversity. This initiative is supported by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister. The ambassador highlighted the establishment of the King Hamad Award for Coexistence and Tolerance and His Majesty's call for an international agreement to criminalize religious, sectarian, and racist hate speech.
Shaikh Fawaz also noted the United Nations General Assembly's recognition of January 28 as the International Day of Peaceful Coexistence, a day initiated by Bahrain through the King Hamad Global Center for Coexistence and Tolerance. This initiative underscores the importance of promoting brotherhood, tolerance, and dialogue among different religions and beliefs.
The discussions between the ambassador and the UK Special Envoy further explored ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation in advancing coexistence, tolerance, and freedom of religion globally. Both parties acknowledged the promising prospects for collaboration in these areas.