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Jewish, Muslim and Christian Leaders call for Greater Religious Tolerance in U.S., World

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Jewish, Muslim and Christian leaders gathered in Los Angeles at the Museum of Tolerance Wednesday to discuss progress on religious freedom in the Arab world. They also called for more religious tolerance in the world and in the U.S.

The gathering included a morning news conference and also an evening ceremony at which the leaders will release publicly for the first time a document known as the "Bahrain Declaration for Religious Tolerance."

King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the king of Bahrain wrote the document. According to the Simon Wiesenthal Center, a global human rights organization co-sponsoring the event, the declaration is the first of its kind written by an Arab Head of State.

It "calls for people of all faiths to show respect for, and protection of, the rights of everyone to practice their religious affiliations in dignity and peace," the Simon Wiesenthal Center shared on Facebook.

The speakers included Prince Nasser bin Hamad al Khalifa of the Kingdom of Bahrain, Rabbi Marvin Hier, the founder and dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center and Museum of Tolerance, Muhammed Khan, the director of Interfaith Outreach of the King Fahd Mosque in Los Angeles, and Rev. Johnnie Moore, a board member of the National Association of Evangelicals.

Moore is a recipient of the Wiesenthal Center’s Medal of Valor for his work with Christian refugees as well as a mother of a victim of an ISIS suicide attacker in Saudi Arabia who reached out to the mother of the suicide bomber.

Moore says the Religious Tolerance declaration is truly historic.

"If this document is lived out in the world we're living in today, the world will change drastically. In a time where the worst of religion is on grand display making countless millions of people's lives miserable, today we will highlight the best of faith," he said. "It's more than a little bit of hope for all of us."

Bahrain's Prince Nasser bin Hamad al Khalifa said at the news conference,"One thing that I have learned today is if our pace is to change one person at a time so let it be so. Let's change one person at a time. The world is actually gaining one person at a time, and this is the way we do it." 

"With forgiveness, with tolerance... this world is going to be a much, much better world," he continued.

Prior to addressing the media, the group met and toured the Anne Frank exhibit at the Museum of Tolerance.

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About The Author

Mark
Martin

Mark Martin currently serves as a reporter and anchor at CBN News, reporting on all kinds of issues, from military matters to alternative fuels. Mark has reported internationally in the Middle East. He traveled to Bahrain and covered stories on the aircraft carrier, the U.S.S. Dwight D. Eisenhower. Mark also anchors CBN News Midday on the CBN Newschannel and fills in on the anchor desk for CBN News' Newswatch and The 700 Club. Prior to CBN News, Mark worked at KFSM-TV, the CBS affiliate in Fort Smith, Arkansas. There he served as a weekend morning producer, before being promoted to general