‘Manama role model for tolerance, co-existence’

President of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA), Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa received the member of the Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco), Dr. Dawood Nassif, and the founder and Director-General of the “Urban Vision” Company Faeq Al-Mandeel.

Shaikh Mai discussed the initiative of Nassif to allocate their heritage house in Manama as a home for religious co-existence and tolerance.

The move is in line with His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s vision on highlighting Manama city’s distinguished status as a model for harmony and tolerance among various religions and cultures.

It is also in line with the royal directives to allocate a house for co-existence among religions, as the best means to project the city’s voice of love and fraternity, and highlight its status as a example to be emulated.

Shaikha Mai stressed that allocating a heritage house would reflect the city’s beauty, and reflect its inhabitants’ commitment to its history of co-existence among religions and cultures.

She affirmed that the initiative reflected Nassif’s family love for the city, and keenness on preserving the spirits of peaceful co-existence and harmony that have always prevailed in Manama.

She said that the initiative is in accordance with HM the King’s support for BACA’s policies aimed at preserving Bahrain’s national identity, as well as his constant interest in human values, and directives to highlight Bahrain’s beauty and the Bahrain’s people’s deep-rooted values based on welcoming and hosting people from all religions and ethnicities.

Dr. Nassif, who worked first at the American Mission Hospital, has dedicated his life to education and imparting knowledge in the region.

He said that his Christian family had left the kingdom for some time, but returned, stressing that the family considers Manama as the best role model for co-existence and acceptance of the other.

Shaikha Mai praised the initiative, highlighting BACA’s current interest in registering Manama in the UNESCO heritage list as a city of co-existence and peace.

She said that BACA is interested in preserving Bahrain’s authentic national identity nationwide, noting that the focus will be on Manama in coming period.

She added that many buildings have survived the urban growth in the kingdom and need to be preserved, citing the Knowledge Department which bears witness to the progress of the educational march in the kingdom.

Source: BNA