Bahrain : Speaker of the Arab Parliament and Board of Trustees Chairman of the Arab Observatory for Human Rights, Adel bin Abdulrahman Al-Asoomi, has praised Bahrain’s experience in the field of alternative sentencing and open prisons.
He affirmed that the kingdom’s experience in criminal legislation is a pioneering one at the regional, Arab and international levels, noting that the Alternative Sentencing Law and the Open Prisons system add to the kingdom’s reforms, and reflect His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s enlightened vision and keenness to foster the values of principles of human rights, in a way that contributes to achieving social stability.
Al-Asoomi made the statements while addressing the “International Conference of Alternative Sanctions and Measures Law: Qualitative Experience in Criminal Legislation”, hosted by the kingdom today.
The Arab Parliament Speaker asserted that the law embodies the humanitarian approach adopted by HM the King towards the issue of human rights, adding that it reflects the royal resolve and will to develop and modernise the legislative and legal system of the Kingdom in accordance with a civilised and modern open vision, entitling the judicial and human rights system in the Kingdom to be a role model to be emulated at the Arab, regional and international levels.
He added that the distinction of Bahrain’s experience in this regard lies in its keenness to apply the law on the widest possible scale, in accordance with the directives of HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister to implement the enlightened vision of HM the King, by harnessing the potential of the government to expand the application of this law and frame it within well-studied and elaborate work programmes that achieve the forecast goals.
The aim, he said, is to include the largest possible number of convicts and to translate the objectives and visions of the Alternative Sentencing Law and the Open Prisons Programme into operational policies on the ground, based on the Kingdom’s national competencies, highlighting the increasing positive results of this law and those of “Open Prisons Programme.
The Arab Parliament Speaker also commended the tremendous efforts exerted by the Ministry of Interior, led by General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, to implement the Alternative Sentencing Law and the Open Prisons Programme consciously and professionally, as well as develop the correctional and rehabilitation centres to achieve the highest human rights standards.
