Tougher gun control measures urged
By TARIQ KHONJI
Published: 02 April 2007
CALLS went out for tougher gun control measures yesterday in the wake of the suspected shooting of nightclub security guard Abbas Ali Salman Hadi Al Shakhoori. Bahrain Human Rights Society assistant secretary general Dr Abdulla Al Derazi said that he hoped that the incident, along with the shooting of Bahraini Madhi Abdulrahman Mohammed last summer in Muharraq, are not the beginning of a new crime trend.
“These types of crimes are new to Bahraini society. Carrying guns is illegal in Bahrain except for the police and the military and only when they are in uniform,” he said.
Tougher gun control measures urged
By TARIQ KHONJI
Published: 02 April 2007
CALLS went out for tougher gun control measures yesterday in the wake of the suspected shooting of nightclub security guard Abbas Ali Salman Hadi Al Shakhoori. Bahrain Human Rights Society assistant secretary general Dr Abdulla Al Derazi said that he hoped that the incident, along with the shooting of Bahraini Madhi Abdulrahman Mohammed last summer in Muharraq, are not the beginning of a new crime trend.
“These types of crimes are new to Bahraini society. Carrying guns is illegal in Bahrain except for the police and the military and only when they are in uniform,” he said.
“These two incidents are an indication that things may be getting out of hand. I believe that the investigation should be transparent so that we know exactly what happened.”
Bahrain Control Arms Campaign co-ordinator and Amnesty International Bahrain representative Nasser Burdestani said that incidents like these are the reason that governments should take gun control more seriously.
Mr Burdestani is planning to launch two petitions this month on behalf of the campaign, one for human rights societies and non-governmental organisations, and the other for the general public. Both the petitions will be submitted to the Foreign Ministry.
“They call on Bahrain to support a planned treaty against guns control.
“Although the treaty hasn’t yet been defined, the general assembly has agreed on it in principle,” he said.
Mr Burdestani said that 40,000 SMS messages would be sent out shortly calling on people to support the campaign. Those who reply would let people become part of the campaign.
Meanwhile, nightspot managers said that they did not expect the incident to substantially affect business. They also said that people should not allow the incident to make them afraid to go out at night.
Gama Hotel Management director Amitabh Mathur, whose company is responsible for the Warbler and the Wrangler, said that the incident was a wake-up call.
“Although our security was strong, we will be stepping it up further in terms of what people take inside with them,” he said.
“This is something that happens very, very rarely and people shouldn’t let it scare them and in fact, they are not. Our business hasn’t been affected at all.”
Tabasco Charlie’s entertainment manager John Bituin said that the incident came as a shock to the industry.
“The crime rate in Bahrain is very low compared to other countries and we never thought this would happen. It is really surprising,” he said and added that there was no reason for people to live in fear.
Meanwhile, MP Mohammed Khalid called for the death penalty to be implemented on anyone convicted of murder, adding that if Sharia law was followed heinous crimes would be greatly reduced.
He said that he was against any kind of pardons for murderers and also condemned laws that allowed paedophiles to be given low sentences.
MP Dr Jassim Hussain Ali Ghuloom said that he was concerned about the economic impact that the incident would have.
“This is very bad timing for the incident, just ahead of the F1. It has unfortunately made the news across the region,” he said.
Dr Ghuloom said his bloc, Al Wefaq, may choose to question the Interior Ministry over this incident and others.
The Interior Ministry was unavailable for comment last night.
© Gulf Daily News
