HM King highlights tolerance as part of Bahrain's identity

His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa has stressed the strong link between Bahrain and the values of tolerance and acceptance.

In a message addressed to Bahrainis and residents in Bahrain as the world celebrates the International Day for Tolerance, HM the King said that the values of tolerance and acceptance were an integral part of the Bahraini character and culture and that all people should have them and should protect them like all the past generations did in the past.

Text of the message by HM King Hamad: 

"In the Name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful

Peace and God's mercy and blessings be upon you

Today, the world celebrates the International Day for Tolerance, an occasion that reminds us of our genuine Bahraini values. These are values that we have inherited from fathers and forefathers over numerous centuries, within which we have learned fraternity and co-existence, and which remind us of our glorious past, prosperous present and bright future.

Tolerance, celebrated by the world and by Bahrain, is an integral part of the culture of the Bahraini people who have always set a vivid example of such noble values that have always been an integral part of the identity of the diverse and unique components of our people. 

Whoever traverses Bahrain and sees its civilizational accomplishments will certainly realize that they were built on genuine values that have become some of its particular assets.

Our beloved country was built on the values of tolerance, openness, love and co-existence, which has made it an oasis of peace for all religions, creeds and ethnicities, and all our generations have been particularly proud of this achievement.

We can see today how citizens and residents live and work together in harmony, regardless of their origins, and this reflects the prevalence of tolerance in Bahrain and among its people and their determination to upkeep it. We have regularly stressed this attitude as a firm value of our society that should never be forsaken.

Our pride in the tolerance of Bahrain's society can be seen in its people, in the co-existence of mosques, churches, and Hindu and Jewish temples. This is a unique sight that has remained over several centuries in Bahrain as the visible sign of tolerance and a source of great pride for us.

Since we assumed the duty of ruling the country, we have shouldered the responsibility, inherited from our forefathers the honourable Al Khalifa rulers, of preserving Bahrain's cosmopolitan society, boosting the values of accepting the other, and respecting plurality and differences, to the extent that such values have been enshrined in our constitution and national laws.

We firmly intend to take all the necessary constructive measures to boost forbearance in our societies, based on our strong belief that tolerance is not only a principle that generates pride. 

It is a value that is deeply anchored in our traditions, in the true teachings of Islam, sand in the societal cohesion for which the people of Bahrain have been known throughout history. It is also based on the belief that it is an urgent necessity for peace and economic and social progress for all peoples across the world.

Celebrating tolerance means for us the Bahraini model of respecting, accepting and appreciating the rich diversity of our world's cultures.

We do not accept in Bahrain any form of tampering with the principles of religion or sects. Anyone who contravenes this principle does not possess anything from our genuine values as we know them. We are fully aware that our diversity and multiplicity are strength and power. 

God protect Bahrain and its people, its values and identity, and may He perpetuate its tolerance, love and peace.

Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa,

King of Bahrain"