Rome : The Kingdom of Bahrain Declaration Europe has been inaugurated during a ceremony held in Rome, the Republic of Italy.
The King Hamad Global Centre for Peaceful Coexistence unveiled the covenant in the presence of ambassadors, diplomats and officials, in addition to one hundred students enrolled in the King Hamad Chair for Interfaith Dialogue and Peaceful Coexistence.
Addressing the ceremony, Bahrain’s Ambassador to Italy Dr. Nasser Mohammed Al Balouchi said that the launch of the declaration in Europe from Italy, amid critical international circumstances, represents a defining moment for promoting all forms of peaceful coexistence, as stated in the document.
The Italian Republic hosts the King Hamad Chair for Interfaith Dialogue and Peaceful Coexistence, which was launched at Sapienza University in 2018.
“This chair, the first of its kind in the world, aims to enlighten young people from all over the world to confront terrorism, extremism and radicalism, and arm them with knowledge and inspire them to spread peaceful coexistence and love all over the world”, said Dr. Al Baloudhi.
“We are pleased that the Kingdom of Bahrain has chosen the Italian Republic to start launching the document of the Declaration of the Kingdom of Bahrain in Europe”, said Andrea Ponzo, Special Envoy for Interreligious Dialogue at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in Italy:
“This choice reflects the great role played by the Italian Republic within the framework of religious pluralism and interfaith dialogue. Preserving freedom of belief and interfaith dialogue are goals that support cohesive societies”, he added.
He stated that interfaith dialogue can enhance cooperation between the spectrum of society and protect against falling in the cauldron of extremism and racism, which negatively affect the freedom of belief and the guarantee of human rights.
Betsy Mathieson, Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees of the King Hamad Global Center for Peaceful Coexistence, states that Bahrain’s declaration has been praised by world leaders.
“His Holiness Pope Francis of the Vatican, praised the declaration, and quoted it during his historic visit to the Kingdom in November 2022, which reinforces the importance of the document as a global roadmap for peace and coexistence”, he said.
She noted that The Declaration represents the founding document for all the work of the King Hamad Global Center for Peaceful Coexistence.
“Since its establishment by Royal Decree, the centre has focused on educational programs for young people”, she said.
She expressed pride at working with such prestigious partners as La Sapienza University in Rome, the King Hamad Program (Faith in Leadership) in the UK, in partnership with the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, The UN Institute for Training and Research, the Office of the Special Envoy of the United States of America to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism, Brazilian Ministry of Women, Family and Human Rights.
Armin Lechet, founder and president of the Abrahamic Convention Institute in Berlin, said he was delighted to participate in the inauguration, noting that the openness of Bahrain and the consolidation of dialogue and peaceful coexistence have enhanced the sense of humanity in society.
“The declaration of the Kingdom of Bahrain has added a new concept within the framework of mutual respect and acceptance”, he said.
During the inauguration ceremony, 100 students affiliated with the King Hamad Chair for Freedom of Religion and Peaceful Coexistence were honored for their participation in the “Ignorance is the Enemy of Peace” Forum.
