Bahrain has blossomed over the years into a tolerant community with religious freedom and acceptance of different beliefs, patterns, and backgrounds.
The EU-Bahrain Conference “Broadening the Tent: Freedom of Religion and Belief” (FORB) has provided a common ground for concerted efforts between the EU and Bahrain’s society, culture, and way of life through the protection of religious freedom.
The three-day meeting gathered Bahraini and European representatives from different beliefs and religions that have encouraged a structured dialogue to better understand their respective journeys regarding FORB, how they incorporate and work with diversity and how their societies can cooperate to strengthen respect for FORB at regional and global levels.
As part of the event’s aim to contribute to a better understanding of FORB in Bahrain and the EU, the unique tradition of openness and tolerance that Bahrain has towards religious diversity can serve as a model of how societies from different historical, religious, and philosophical backgrounds can come to similar conclusions and expand the FORB Tent. The protection they guarantee is granted to individuals that cannot be violated.
“This is a big event that has evolved into a bigger scale and it is exciting meeting people with different backgrounds informally and talking about significant issues raised in the conference,” St Christopher’s Cathedral Dean Reverend Christopher Butt said.
“The Kingdom is expanding and it’s a big opportunity for all sorts of engagements at community levels in discovering different patterns, people, and backgrounds.”
The conference highlighted the increasing number of people who have thoughts and beliefs that are out of protection in increasingly complex societies, where everybody is exposed to and influenced by multiple religions and spiritual and philosophical worldviews.
This comes as a result of the increasing access to higher education, arts and literature, international travels, and social media, as well as the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This is a significant event held between the European Union (EU) and Bahrain in bringing the Muslim, Jewish, and other communities together to participate in this inter-religious and inter-cultural dialogue about freedom. And I certainly admire Bahrain’s coexistence and religious acceptance,” European Rabbis Conference Vice President and Chief Rabbi of France Special Advisor Rabbi Moshe Lewin said.
“The conference today highlighted the impact of education, social media, and other modern elements that impact religious coexistence. And I believe that this event will promote other events all around the world encouraging religious freedom and acceptance.”
Bahrain has embraced FORB by running comprehensive discussions and dialogues throughout the event that has certainly touched upon religious protection, In addition to not holding beliefs, changing beliefs along the way, and holding minority beliefs within a religious community.
“These types of events are necessary in showcasing to the world Bahrain’s coexistence and tolerance. King Hamad Global Center for Peaceful Coexistence has conducted many events all around the world in highlighting the Kingdom’s religious image,” Shri Krishna Temple Head Sushil Muljimal said.
The event concluded its second day by highlighting how freedom of expression has been implemented by the Kingdom in a natural and coexistent manner.
Source: Bahrain News Agency