Manama : Dr. Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the King Hamad Global Center for Coexistence and Tolerance, attended the celebration marking the 40th anniversary of the Church of Philadelphia in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
The event was attended by Ali Abdulla Al Aradi, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Trustees, and Board Members Ibrahim Dawood Nonoo, Dr. Majid Mohsen Al Asfoor, Dr. Alsadig Omer Khalafallah, and Shaikh Salah Yousif Al Jowder, alongside a number of church leaders and religious and community figures.
Dr. Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed said that Bahrain, under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and the directives of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, has established itself as a leading civilisational model in religious and cultural coexistence, respect for freedom of religion and belief, and the protection of human dignity.
He expressed pride in the strong relations linking the Center with various religious institutions as partners in promoting community stability, social harmony, and human coexistence. He commended the role played by the Church since its establishment forty years ago and its contributions to enhancing religious and ethical values and serving the community in a spirit of compassion, cooperation, and constructive engagement among all.
The Chairman of the Center’s Board of Trustees extended congratulations to the Church’s leadership and members on this occasion, underlining that the Kingdom will remain an inclusive homeland embracing all its people within a framework of respect and human fraternity, reflecting its historical identity and deep-rooted traditions of peaceful coexistence among followers of different religions and cultures.
On his part, Reverend Jacob Chandy, President of the Church of Philadelphia, expressed appreciation to Bahrain for providing a positive environment that promotes the values of tolerance, diversity, respect for freedom of belief, and the practice of religious rituals. He also commended the role of the Center in supporting religious institutions and advancing the principles of human fraternity in a society characterised by harmony, mutual respect, and coexistence among various religions, cultures, and nationalities.
