Bahrain Mirror: King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa ratified a law preventing members of dissolved political opposition groups from running in elections.

The King issued Law 25/2018 on amending Article (3) of Decree-Law 14/2002 on the Exercise of Political Rights.

According to the law, the second clause of Article (3) of Decree-Law 14/2002 on the Exercise of Political Rights will be amended as follows:

"The following persons shall be banned from contesting parliamentary elections as candidates:

1. A person who is convicted of committing a felony, even if a special amnesty is granted or they have been rehabilitated.

2. A person who is sentenced to imprisonment for intentional offenses for more than six months, even if a special amnesty has been granted.

3. Actual leaders and members of political societies which have been dissolved by a final judgment for committing serious violations of the provisions of the Constitution of the Kingdom or any of its laws.

4. Any person who intentionally harms or disrupts the constitutional or parliamentary process by terminating or leaving the parliamentary work in the Council of Representatives or their membership has been dropped for the same reasons."

The Prime Minister and the relevant ministers shall implement this law, which shall take effect a day after its publication in the Official Gazette.

It is to mention that the authorities have dissolved 3 political opposition societies since the eruption of 2011 uprisings; the Islamic Action Association (Amal), the National Islamic Wefaq Society and National Democratic Action Society (Wa'ad).

Arabic Version