peaceful assembly, they may not be expanded further or standardized, and must be constantly interpreted in the strictest limits. 8.9 The NIHR asserts that the right to peaceful assembly faces a challenge linked to the culture and awareness of the community in dealing with it. Describing an assembly as peaceful requires that all the practices accompanying it are far from the manifestations of violence or counter-violence from any party, or whatever influences or prejudices the right of others to enjoy the other rights and freedoms. This led the legislative intervention to provide for controls to prevent abuse or their misuse, provided that such controls conform to the relevant provisions of International Human Rights Law. 8.10 The NIHR affirms that, although the State has the right to intervene in the enactment of legislation and to take appropriate measures to regulate the exercise of the right to peaceful assembly as a result of certain infringing behaviors accompanying such assemblies, the State’s intervention must not be in such a way that the right is confiscated or restricted, thus losing its substance. 8.11 With regard to the freedom of association, the Constitution of the Kingdom of Bahrain guaranteed this freedom in Article No. (27), which stated that “The freedom to form associations and unions on national principles, for lawful objectives and by peaceful means is guaranteed under the rules and conditions laid down by law, provided that the fundamentals of the religion and public order are not infringed. No one can be forced to join any association or union or to continue as a member.” Parallel Report by the National Institution for Human Rights of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the Human Rights Committee © 2018 48

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