Bahrain has been praised for its openness and religious tolerance in an international report compiled by a top advisory body to the US government.

The 16th edition of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) covers 33 countries and makes country specific recommendations, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

The report stated that Bahrain has made 'demonstrable progress' in rebuilding mosques and religious structures demolished during 2011 unrest, as part of implementing recommendations of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI).

“Compared with other countries in the region, Bahrain is among the most tolerant of non-Muslim religious minority communities,” stated the report.

It said the government officially recognises several Christian denominations, a small Jewish community, Hindus, Sikhs and the Baha'i community.

“Most Bahrainis acknowledge that their society has been historically tolerant of all faiths and religiously pluralistic to a degree that is notable in the region,” it said.

The report was compiled based on input from USCIRF staff who travelled to Bahrain in December and met officials from the US Embassy, civil society representatives, religious leaders and rights groups.

However, the report stated that Bahrain did not meet a 2014 deadline to rebuild demolished religious structures despite increasing the budget to carry out the work to around $8 million.

As of December, 14 mosques had been rebuilt, eight by the government and six by the Shi'ite community, while 13 others were approximately 80 to 90 per cent complete, it said.

The USCIRF report alleged discrimination against the Shi'ite community and a lack of accountability for alleged past abuses, but this was denied by National Institution for Human Rights vice-chairman Dr Abdulla Al Deerazi.

“This report gives a clear picture of the diversity and tolerance in Bahrain, which is a model in the region when it comes to such freedoms,” he said.

“We have seen some groups who wanted to divide society in 2011 and they did not succeed.”

Dr Al Deerazi specifically stated there was no state policy of discrimination against the Shi'ite community in Bahrain.

“In Bahrain there is no policy by the state to discriminate,” he said.

“I agree we have some problems, but there are many countries that face a similar situation.” - TradeArabia News Service