Religious Tolerance and Inclusion

While Islam is the religion of some 80% of Bahrain’s inhabitants, there are many other faiths in Bahrain and religious freedoms are respected. Bahrain’s King has underscored the country’s value of religious tolerance. Bahrain was the first Arab nation to have a Jewish ambassador to the United States. Bahrain’s capital, Manama, is home to the Arabian Peninsula’s only synagogue, a 200-year-old Hindu temple, and a Sikh temple.

Christian churches are found throughout the country, serving the country’s large expatriate community.Bahrain embraces the centuries-old tradition of welcoming people of different religious groups, who have lived side-by-side in harmony in Bahrain and practiced their faiths in peace. Bahrain also actively fosters interfaith dialogue and understanding.There is perhaps no greater example of this principle than the Kingdom of Bahrain Declaration, a statement of belief put forward by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.

The Kingdom of Bahrain Declaration

The Kingdom of Bahrain Declaration, which calls for greater religious tolerance across the globe, was unveiled at a global ceremony held at the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles, California. The Declaration captures the King’s personal priority to build a more tolerant Middle East, free of antisemitism and extremism. The historic declaration was signed by Muslim, Jewish, and Christian leaders.

Read the Kingdom of Bahrain Declaration