I REGULARLY receive dozens of invitations to attend conferences, seminars, forums, meetings and exhibitions on a wide range of political, economic, social, intellectual and cultural issues. However, many of such events turn into “duplicated copies”, having same faces and same themes, and some of them are repeated “periodically” in which merely the location of the city or the host country is changed, but the subject and its treatment remain boring and monotonous. This is evident in the periodic events celebrated by choosing a city as the capital of Islamic culture. But what encouraged me to accept the invitation is that it is in Bahrain, which has adopted a clear and explicit approach for a long time, in which culture is respected as an interface that reflects the country’s rich heritage and the unique style of diversity and coexistence in the Arabian Gulf.
The events that accompanied the launching of the announcement of the choice of “Muharraq” as the capital of Islamic culture were to a great extent “startling”, “distinctive”, “different” and “unique” by reactions from the constellation of guests and distinguished guests who came from all over the world. In the events, the culture was presented in a comprehensive, attractive and integrated manner.
In the past, these events were made up of a solemn sermon for the character of the frowning eyebrows, with a loud voice, pointing with the right and the left index finger, and the spittle dripping out of his mouth, then a poem was thrown. At this time the occasion was full of beautiful melodies, art, paintings, rich food, books and lectures, all of which presented a celebration of Muharraq and its rich and unique history of co-existence, tolerance, openness and acceptance, reflecting the culture of the ancient Dilmun and new Bahrain.
