Hassan Al -Sitry
Determining the powers of the Ministry of Interior and the administrative control bodies for the application of the law
Public places are committed to Bahraini values, customs and traditions
The mechanisms of penalties and fines and double them when the violation is repeated
The Speaker of Parliament Ahmed Al -Muslim referred to the Foreign Affairs, Defense and National Security Committee a proposal for a law on preserving public taste, and includes a fine of 100 dinars for those who violate its provisions.
The law applies to everyone who goes on public places, and everyone who is in a public place must respect the values, customs, traditions and culture prevailing in the Kingdom, as it is not permissible to appear in a public place in an uniform or dressed or wearing costume or clothing that carries pictures, shapes, signs or phrases that offend public taste, as it is not permissible to write, drawing, or their ruling on the walls of a public place or any of its components or any of its components or any of the means of transportation; Unless it is licensed by the concerned authority, in public places is not allowed to say or do it harm to its visitors, or harm them, or lead to their fear or endangering them.
According to the law, the Minister of Interior defines the administrative control bodies concerned with the application of the provisions of this law, and the appropriate mechanisms for the impact of the penalties.
And with no prejudice to any more severe penalty, the system; A fine is signed for anyone who violates any of the provisions contained in this law in a manner that does not exceed one hundred dinars, according to the schedule of the classification of violations stipulated in Article (Ninth) of this law, and the amount of the fine is doubled in the event of repeated the violation itself within a year from the date of its commitment for the first time. It is permissible for those who were issued a decision to a fine of appeal against the decision before the competent court.
The Ministry of Interior shall classify violations and determine the financial fines corresponding to each of them, according to a schedule prepared for this purpose and issued by a decision of the Minister of Interior.
The law defines the general taste as a set of behaviors and literature that express the values, principles and identity of society, according to the foundations and ingredients stipulated in the statute of rule. As for public places, they are the locations available for the public for free or for a fee, from the markets, commercial complexes, hotels, restaurants, cafes, museums, theaters, cinemas, stadiums, performances, medical and educational facilities, gardens, parks, clubs, roads, corridors, beaches, various means of transportation, exhibitions, and so on.
According to the explanatory note, this proposal submitted by Representative Hanan Verdan comes in response to an urgent need to regulate behaviors in public places in line with the values and principles of Bahraini society, and enhances a safe and respectful environment for all, as the issuance of the law preserving public taste serves a number of vital public interests of Bahraini society, which can be summed up in the following points:
1. Maintaining cultural identity and societal values:
The proposal mainly aims to protect the cultural identity and the authentic values of Bahraini society. The first article defines public taste as “a set of behaviors and literature that express the values, principles and identity of society, according to the foundations and ingredients stipulated in the statute of government.” This definition confirms that the law is not merely a formal organization, but rather an expression of the state’s commitment to preserving the cultural and social heritage that distinguishes Bahrain. The third and fourth articles impose respect for customs and traditions and prevent the appearance of uncontrolled clothes or carrying offensive drawings, which ensures that the social fabric and values are not prejudiced.
2. Enhance public order and tranquility:
The proposal works to strengthen public order and tranquility in public places. The sixth article prohibits any saying or action in it harmful to users of public places, harm them, or lead to fear or endangering them. This ruling is necessary to ensure that individuals feel safe and comfortable when using public facilities, and reduces behaviors that may cause inconvenience or chaos. Also, the fifth article, which prevents writing or unlicensed drawing on the walls, contributes to preserving the aesthetic and cleanliness of public places, which enhances the civilizational appearance of the Kingdom.
3. Public and private property protection:
Through criminalizing writing or drawing on the walls of public places and their components without a license (Article Five), the proposal contributes to protecting public and private property from sabotage and distortion, as these behaviors not only distort the general appearance, but the state and private institutions cost huge funds to remove and reform them. Consequently, the law limits these actions and contributes to preserving public and private properties.
4. Providing an attractive environment for tourism and investment:
The existence of a clear legal framework that defines acceptable behaviors in public places contributes to providing an attractive environment for tourism and investment. Tourists and investors are looking for stability, safety and respect for values, and when visitors realize that there are laws that guarantee a respectable and organized environment, this enhances Bahrain’s reputation as a safe and civilized tourist and investment destination.
5. Establishing the principles of justice and fairness:
The proposal includes mechanisms to ensure justice and fairness in its application. The eighth article determines the financial fines as a penalty for violations, while multiplying them in the event of a repeat of the violation, which provides an appropriate deterrent. More importantly, Paragraph (2) of Article Eight gives the right to the person who is affected by grievance before the competent administrative court, which ensures the existence of judicial control over the law application decisions and protects the rights of individuals from any possible abuse.
6. Keeping pace with global legislative developments:
Many countries in the world, whether with a similar and different cultural background, are to enact laws similar to regulating behavior in public places, with the aim of preserving order, enhancing societal values, and providing a safe and respectable environment for its citizens and visitors. This proposal will put the Kingdom of Bahrain in the ranks of countries that keep pace with global legislative developments in the field of regulating public taste.
Based on the foregoing, this proposal is an urgent necessity for the public interest in the Kingdom of Bahrain, as it contributes to protecting the cultural identity, promoting public order, protecting property, attracting investment and tourism, all within a legal framework that guarantees justice and fairness.
