Hamdi Abdulaziz
The Minister of Interior, Lieutenant General Sheikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, will open today, the first international conference for alternative sanctions, which is organized by the Ministry of Interior, with the participation of a group of speakers, experts and specialists in the fields of reform and criminal justice and human rights, from within the Kingdom of Bahrain and abroad.
The Ministry of the Interior said that it is organizing this international event in an effort to shed light on the Bahraini experience in reform and criminal justice, as it comes in the context of its efforts to enhance modern criminal policies in line with the principles of human justice and the requirements of community security.
The conference targets decision -makers, workers and researchers in the areas of reform and typical rehabilitation of guests from different countries of the world. It includes a series of discussion sessions that deal with alternative penalties and mechanisms and their role in reforming and rehabilitating guests, in addition to highlighting ways to support societal justice concepts and exchange best practices in this field.
The project of alternative penalties and open prisons is one of the leading initiatives in light of the reform project of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the king of the country’s great country, and is supported by the government headed by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and with the extensive follow -up of the Minister of Interior.
The open prisons is the second stage after the alternative penalties, in which the sentence of the sentence is replaced by the prison to another punishment to serve the community, provided that the period of the punishment is free, and that he returns daily to his home and his family after performing the community service. As for the open prisons, it is a program for the owners of long periods from the convicts who are difficult to completely release for various reasons, and according to which the prisoner is released throughout the day, to return at a specific hour for the prison for overnight, with the aim of “integrating the convict in society and preparing him to participate in family and social life.”
The Minister of the Interior recently announced that the number of those covered by the Royal Pardon and the beneficiaries of alternative penalties and open prisons and released during the period from 2008 to July 2024 amounted to 59 thousand, which is an indication of the national approach to promoting human rights and protecting the social fabric. Noting that since the implementation of the Alternative Penal Code in 2018, the program has benefited 7,600 people.
For his part, the Director General of the General Administration for the Execution of Ruling on Alternative Provisions and Penalties, Sheikh Khalid bin Rashid Al Khalifa, affirmed the continuation of the royal directives, which requires expanding the application of the provisions of the alternative penal code, in adding a qualitative to the human rights march in the Kingdom of Bahrain, which is based on the values and lofty principles of the reform era of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the king of the country.
At the same time, he appreciated the support of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Prime Minister, for projects and reform initiatives, and His Highness was keen to provide all circumstances that help beneficiaries of alternative sanctions to integrate into society, within the framework of the criminal justice system.
The Director General explained that the instructions of the Minister of the Interior emphasize the follow -up of the application of the provisions of the law and the provision of rehabilitation and training services and programs for the beneficiaries, in a way that contributes to enhancing the successes achieved in the implementation process as well as subsequent follow -up.
The programs that are worked on, contribute to the integration of beneficiaries from the convicts gradually in society, expressing his thanks and appreciation to the authorities and institutions concerned with participating in the implementation of alternative penalties, and provides training and qualification programs for the beneficiaries, in a way that ensures that their behavior is evaluated and prepared for positive integration into society.
It also includes the facilities of the Open Prison Complex, educational buildings, residential units and sports club, which are equipped according to the latest standards to provide an integrated rehabilitation environment.
The Kingdom of Bahrain’s adoption of the expansion of sanctions and alternative measures is in line with its leadership in dealing with the categories of inmates, and achieves the best practices used globally in this field, including the international standards approved such as the United Nations lower bases of the non -seizures measure “Bangkok Rules”, and other non -seizures and measures to reduce overcrowding in prisons.
The Bahraini experience won many international praises, as a successful model that reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to international human rights, reform and rehabilitation standards.
