Bahrain Dialogue Forum: East and West for Human Coexistence
-
Date: 03 November 2022 - 04 November 2022
-
Location
: Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain
Under the gracious patronage of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of the Kingdom of Bahrain, and in the presence of His Eminence Prof. Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and President of the Muslim Council of Elders, as well as His Holiness Pope Francis, Pontiff of the Catholic Church, alongside numerous prominent religious leaders and thinkers from around the world, the Bahrain Dialogue Forum was held in Manama on November 3 and 4, 2022. The forum convened under the theme: ‘East and West for Human Coexistence’.
The forum was organized by the Muslim Council of Elders, in partnership with the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs of Bahrain and the King Hamad Global Centre for Peaceful Coexistence. It brought together over 200 prominent religious leaders, intellectuals, and media figures from around the world. This event was part of the Muslim Council of Elders' ongoing efforts, led by His Eminence Prof. Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, to promote dialogue, acceptance of others, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence, while rejecting all forms of extremism, racism, and discrimination. These efforts culminated in the historic signing of the Document on Human Fraternity by His Eminence Prof. Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb and His Holiness Pope Francis in Abu Dhabi in 2019.
The forum included an opening session and four key discussions. These focused on global experiences of coexistence, human fraternity, dialogue, and peaceful living—highlighting the Bahrain Declaration as a model. The sessions also explored the role of religious leaders and scholars in addressing contemporary challenges like climate change and the global food crisis, while examining how interfaith dialogue can help achieve global peace, with the Document on Human Fraternity serving as a key guiding example.
The second day of the event concluded with the closing session, ‘Interfaith Dialogue and Achieving Global Peace: The Document on Human Fraternity as a Model’, attended by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, His Eminence Prof. Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, His Holiness Pope Francis, and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Bahrain. In this session, King Hamad called for an international partnership rooted in diplomatic dialogue and peaceful means to resolve conflicts, with particular emphasis on ending the Russia-Ukraine war. His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar emphasized the urgent need for a serious inter-Islamic dialogue to unify the Muslim Ummah, foster its solidarity, and achieve a united front to address the challenges facing the Muslim world. He also stressed the importance of ending the Russia-Ukraine war, preventing further bloodshed, and promoting peace through dialogue and negotiations. Likewise, His Holiness Pope Francis, Pontiff of the Catholic Church, called for an immediate end to the war in Ukraine and the start of serious peace talks.
