A MAJOR new initiative designed to make Bahrain a hub for religious dialogue in the region can help spread a message of acceptance around the world, it was announced yesterday.

The three-day ‘Civilisations in Service to Humanity’ conference will begin tomorrow at the Gulf Hotel, under the aegis of His Majesty King Hamad.

More than 300 religious figures and scholars from more than 80 countries are expected to attend, representing a multitude of faiths and aiming to foster a message of peace and religious understanding.

The GDN revealed details of the event yesterday. Meanwhile, organisers hosted a Press conference at the Gulf Hotel to further explain the conference’s purpose and aims.

“Bahrain civilisation started in Dilmun more than 5,000 years ago,” said Bahrain Ambassador to Kuwait, Supreme Organising Committee chairman and conference head Shaikh Khalifa bin Hamad Al Khalifa at the Press conference.

“All civilisations have passed through this island at one point. We are a corner of what is called the triangle of civilisation – this triangle is made up of Iraq, Egypt and Dilmun.

Glory

“All those ancient civilisations believed this island to be a part of heaven, which explains why Bahrain has the world’s largest cemetery.

“That is why His Majesty King Hamad has called on all the world’s religions to meet in Bahrain – all of us as God’s creations meeting with our differences that give us richness.”

Bahrain’s National Evangelical Church chairman Reverend Hani Aziz added that the aim of the conference is to spread a message of religious acceptance first among locals and by example to the rest of the world.

“We are trying to take the message to the people of Bahrain,” said Rev Hamza. “We want the message to reach everyday people, and from those people the positive message will spread to the people of the world.”

More than eight million people are now following news of the ‘Civilisations in Service to Humanity’ conference on social media, according to organisers.