Bahrain Declaration attendees
Religious leaders from faith denominations — Islam, Christianity, Judaism and others — on Wednesday night signed a historic declaration for human rights and religious freedom authored by the King of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa in Los Angeles – USA.
According to the Simon Wiesenthal Center, a global human rights organization that co-sponsored the event, the declaration is the first of its kind written by an Arab Head of State.
The “Bahrain Declaration” calls for an end to religious extremism and calls for greater religious tolerance in not only the Middle East but across the globe.
The Christian Post (CP) has reported that the declaration’s section on “religious faith and expression” explains that while religion is most often used for good, religion “is too frequently used as a divine sanction to spread hate and dissension.”
It “calls for people of all faiths to show respect for, and protection of, the rights of everyone to practice their religious affiliations in dignity and peace.” Sources told CBN on Wednesday.
The declaration condemns any kind of religious teaching that incites violence or terror.
“We declare that when extremist clergy preach hatred, violence and seek to sow the seeds of discord, that they are inciting the desecration of the name of God,” the declaration asserts, according to CP.
The declaration’s second section argues that “God instructs us to exercise the divine gift of freedom of choice.”
The speakers included Prince Nasser bin Hamad al Khalifa of the Kingdom of Bahrain, Rabbi Marvin Hier, the founder and dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center and Museum of Tolerance, Muhammed Khan, the director of Interfaith Outreach of the King Fahd Mosque in Los Angeles, and Rev. Johnnie Moore, a board member of the National Association of Evangelicals.
Bahrain is listed as the No. 48 worst country in the world when it comes to Christian persecution on Open Doors USA’s 2017 World Watch List.
Staff Writer.
