Manama: Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs, affirmed that under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and the guidance of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, the Kingdom of Bahrain continues to strengthen its position as a global model of tolerance and peaceful coexistence and as an active international partner in promoting mutual understanding, respect for religious and cultural diversity, and combating hate speech and extremism.
According to Bahrain News Agency, marking the International Day for Countering Hate Speech, observed this year under the theme "The Power of Partnerships in Countering Hate Speech," the Minister highlighted Bahrain's commitment to fostering peace, interfaith dialogue, and human dignity through legislative, institutional, and diplomatic initiatives that promote moderation, openness, and respect in line with international principles.
He underscored Bahrain's flagship initiatives, including the Bahrain Declaration on Religious Tolerance, the King Hamad Global Centre for Peaceful Coexistence and Tolerance, the King Hamad Award for Peaceful Coexistence, and international forums that advance dialogue among religions and civilizations, reflecting the Kingdom's enduring commitment to religious freedom and cultural pluralism.
The Minister also expressed pride in the international recognition of Bahrain's humanitarian and diplomatic efforts, including the UN's adoption of the Kingdom's initiative establishing the International Day of Peaceful Coexistence, highlighting the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2817, co-sponsored by 136 countries, and a unanimous Human Rights Council resolution backed by 115 states, in addition to other international measures condemning Iran's attacks against Bahrain and other countries in the region.
Dr. Al Zayani renewed Bahrain's call for support of His Majesty the King's proposal for an international convention criminalizing religious, sectarian, and racial hate speech and preventing the misuse of media and digital platforms to incite extremism and intolerance.
He reaffirmed Bahrain's commitment, through its active engagement in regional and international organizations, including its non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council for the term 2026-2027, to supporting global efforts to combat hate speech, extremism, terrorism, and discrimination while promoting dialogue, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence.
The Minister concluded by emphasising that Bahrain will continue working with international partners to advance peace, mutual respect, and intercultural dialogue, contributing to a more secure, just, and prosperous world.