AFP – 20 July 2006
King Hamad bin Issa al-Khalifa ratified a controversial law on public assembly that restricts the right to meet and lays down prison terms for unauthorised protests, the official news agency BNA said.
The new law was adopted on July 11 by parliament and confirmed by the government before going to the king for ratification.
It provides for jail terms of up to six months or fines for those who organize unauthorised protests or demonstrations where there is trouble.
The law prohibits demonstrations in public places such as airports, hospitals, near diplomatic missions and the offices of international organisations and also bans the use of weapons and stone-throwing.
AFP – 20 July 2006King Hamad bin Issa al-Khalifa ratified a controversial law on public assembly that restricts the right to meet and lays down prison terms for unauthorised protests, the official news agency BNA said.
The new law was adopted on July 11 by parliament and confirmed by the government before going to the king for ratification.
It provides for jail terms of up to six months or fines for those who organize unauthorised protests or demonstrations where there is trouble.
The law prohibits demonstrations in public places such as airports, hospitals, near diplomatic missions and the offices of international organisations and also bans the use of weapons and stone-throwing.
It also forbids non-Bahrainis from taking part in political protests. Large numbers of expatriate workers, mainly from Asia, live and work in the archipelago.
To justify the curbs, which have been criticized by political groups and rights activists, the government has pointed to trouble at previous demonstrations and damage to the country’s investment climate.