Bahrain Penalizes Usage of Explosive Materials That Lead to Death

Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa (BNA)
Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa (BNA)
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Bahrain Penalizes Usage of Explosive Materials That Lead to Death

Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa (BNA)
Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa (BNA)

Bahrain has increased the penalties for those who possess explosive materials that may lead to death.

The new amendments to the Penal Code were approved by Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa on Tuesday, following their approval by the Shura Council and the Parliament.

It stipulates the death penalty or life imprisonment for those who used explosive material that led to any person’s death.

The amendments come in line with efforts to protect the society from terrorism and reinforce deterrent penalties for perpetrators of terrorist acts.

A prison sentence of no less than 10 years and a fine of no less than BD500 and no more than BD1,000 shall be inflicted on any person who makes flammable or explosive materials with the intent of using it or distributing it to expose people’s lives or public and private funds to danger or possessing materials used to make explosives for the same purpose.

The amendments also included a prison sentence of no more than five years and a fine not exceeding BD500 to be inflicted on any person who possesses flammable or explosive materials with the intent to expose people’s lives or public or private funds to danger.

Whoever distributes or uses flammable or explosive materials for the same purpose shall be punished with a prison sentence of no more than eight years, the amendment statement read.

“The penalty shall be life or temporary prison of not less than 10 years if the attack results in permanent disability. “

“The penalty shall be a death sentence or life imprisonment if the use causes the death of a person,” it added.

In May, Bahrain criminalized, according to the Penal Code, all forms of sympathy for terrorist acts that occur within its borders or abroad by any means.

It also criminalized all forms of possession, transfer, and distribution of any documents indicating sympathy or justification for terrorist acts within Bahrain’s territories or abroad.



Kurdish PKK Militants to Hand over First Weapons in Ceremony in Iraq

PKK militants in northern Iraq (Reuters)
PKK militants in northern Iraq (Reuters)
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Kurdish PKK Militants to Hand over First Weapons in Ceremony in Iraq

PKK militants in northern Iraq (Reuters)
PKK militants in northern Iraq (Reuters)

Dozens of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants will hand over their weapons in a ceremony in northern Iraq on Friday, marking a symbolic but significant first step toward ending a decades-long insurgency with Türkiye.

The PKK, locked in conflict with the Turkish state and outlawed since 1984, decided in May to disband, disarm and end its armed struggle after a public call to do so from its long-imprisoned leader Abdullah Ocalan, Reuters said.

After a series of failed peace efforts, the new initiative could pave the way for Ankara to end an insurgency that has killed over 40,000 people, burdened the economy and wrought deep social and political divisions in Türkiye and the wider region.

Around 40 PKK militants and one commander were expected to hand over their weapons at the ceremony in the northern Iraqi city of Sulaymaniyah, people familiar with the plan said. The PKK is based in northern Iraq after being pushed well beyond Türkiye’s frontier in recent years.

The arms are to be destroyed later in another ceremony attended by Turkish and Iraqi intelligence figures, officials of Iraq's Kurdistan regional government, and senior members of Türkiye's pro-Kurdish DEM party - which also played a key role in facilitating the PKK's disarmament decision.

The PKK, DEM and Ocalan have all called on Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan's government to address Kurdish political demands. In a rare online video published on Wednesday, Ocalan also urged Türkiye's parliament to set up a commission to oversee disarmament and manage the broader peace process.

Ankara has taken steps toward forming the commission, while the DEM and Ocalan have said that legal assurances and certain mechanisms were needed to smooth the PKK's transition into democratic politics.

Erdogan has said his government would not allow any attempts to sabotage the disarmament process, adding he would give people "historic good news".

Omer Celik, a spokesman for Erdogan's AK Party, said the disarmament process should not be allowed to drag on longer than a few months to avoid it becoming subject to provocations.