United in faith AN international roadshow showcasing Bahrains religious tolerance and cultural diversity will be held in Belgium later this month. More than 150 delegates representing 45 Bahraini organisations will take part in the This Is Bahrain exhibition and conference, which will be held on January 28 in Brussels. It is being organised by the Bahrain Federation of Expatriate Associations (BFEA) and will also feature Shura Council members, government officials and young Bahraini inventors. Openness BFEA general co-ordinator Ali Albaharna said the delegation comprises community leaders, religious figures, activists and members of the expatriate community. For the first time, the travelling caravan of a cross section of society will be visiting their counterparts in Brussels to showcase Bahrains openness and also inviting them to attend related events that will be held here in future, he told the GDN. Bahrain is known for its religious tolerance and cultural diversity, and that didnt just pop up two or three decades ago, it has been the case for centuries. People can just visit Manama to see mosques, maatams, churches, temples and other worship places wall-by-wall to realise that Bahrain is a world leader in respecting beliefs and practices, with members of the community taking part in mixed events. There has been huge response to our previous events and we believe that Belgium, which hosts a number of United Nations organisations and offices, is a strong destination to solidify the roadshow. He said 150 delegates have already confirmed their participation, but the number was expected to increase closer to the event. It is not numbers that matter, it is a good representation of Bahrain, and we have representatives from religious groups, media, government, entrepreneurs and even members of the legislative branch delegated by the Shura Council, he explained. All participants have paid for their accommodation and travel expenses themselves and their numbers vary according to how they want to showcase themselves. Mr Albaharna also revealed plans to expand the roadshow, which was held in London and Berlin last year. Later in the year, we are planning to visit the US as a Northern American powerhouse, followed by Brazil, he said. We will then shift to Asia with plans to visit Tokyo and Bangkok. Our new website thisisbahrain.org will also be launched next month and it will have links to social media accounts. He reiterated that the event had no political affiliation. People should realise that we have no political affiliation and our members are all volunteers from the community, he added. Among the participants are officials from ministries and government organisations, who will reveal new projects and programmes that are in the pipeline. Representatives from Bahrains four governorates will also travel with us to speak about how they deal with peoples grievances and follow up on their requests for services. The Riffa Women Cultural and Charity Society has signed up for the event, and its president Dr Hala Jamal told the GDN that they had the largest number of representatives with eight women. Campaigns Women are the real image of society and our presence during the last two events has helped showcase that fact, as we focused on our voluntary work and campaigns that the society has benefited from, she said. Bahrain Association for Religious Co-existence and Tolerance (TaAyoush) chairman Yousif Buzaboon said its members who represent different faiths including Muslims, Jews, Christians and Hindus will showcase Bahrains religious tolerance. Members have the right to showcase their religious faiths individually and again within the society, which co-ordinates their festivities, gatherings and events as an umbrella, he said. The venue of This Is Bahrain exhibition and conference will be announced at a later date. #ila
Posted on: Sun, 11 Jan 2015 05:38:16 +0000
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