Bahrain Mirror: Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace (ICUJP) announced on Wednesday (October 7, 2015) that it issued its 2015 Advocate for Peace Award to Sheikh Maytham Al-Salman, head of religious freedom unit at Bahrain Human Rights Observatory.

In its statement, ICUJP, said that "the annual prize was granted to Sheikh Maytham Al-Salman for his important role in religious dialogue, promoting mutual respect among religions and supporting the international project to enhance the freedom of expression supervised by Columbia University in New York."

It added that Al-Salman "has been working with Columbia University Global Freedom of Expression since April 2015, advising the international projects to build tolerance and counter incitement to violence and discrimination and respect freedom of expression and religion in the middle east," pointing out that Al-Salman has contributed this year in his important role on the international level to counter incitement of violence and discrimination as per the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

ICUJP explained that "Sheikh Al-Salman's work in countering incitement of violence and educating the civil society and non-governmental, religious and faith-based organizations in the middle east is honored by all parties that are keen to maintain global peace."

Al-Salman is supposed to be honored and receive his prize in a ceremony held in New York in November 2015, noting that the prize is granted to people who play an important and effective role on the international level to enhance international peace and security and reject wars, violence and terrorism from a religious aspect.

Sheikh Maytham Al-Salman was arrested two months earlier at Bahrain International Airport. The authorities; however, released him due to international pressure. An official in the Bahraini cabinet launched a campaign against Al-Salman due to his latest participation in a seminar in the US, urging the authorities to arrest him.

Arabic Issue