Second Topic
Advisory Opinions Submitted from the NIHR to
the Council of Representatives
The NIHR submitted to the Council of Representatives - during the reporting
period - twelve (12) opinions, as follows:
First: Proposed draft law to amend Article No. (310-bis) of the Penal
Code issued pursuant to Decree-Law No. (15) of 1976
1. The NIHR expressed its advisory opinion on the proposal law to amend
Article (310-bis) of the Penal Code Decree Law No. (15) of 1976, composed
of two articles and a preamble, in which the first Article replaces the text of
Article No. (310-bis) of the Penal Code Decree-Law No. (15) of 1976, to
increase the penalty for the crimes of witchcraft, sorcery, or fortune telling,
and the second Article is executive.
2. The text of Article No. (310-bis) in the proposed law states the following: “A
prison sentence of a maximum 5 years and a fine not less than BD 500
and does not exceed BD 5,000 or both sentences shall be imposed on
any person who practices as a profession for gaining money acts of
witchcraft, sorcery, or fortune telling, and is considered as such doing
actions or saying words or using means to disillusion or deceive the
victim of their power to tell them what is in their mind or help them get
a need or desire or good or evil in violation of the scientific and legal
foundations.”
3. The NIHR concluded that the proposal brought about amendments in
accordance with the Constitution and the relevant international and regional
standards, to provide protection for the families and preserve their unity,
within the commitment of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the relevant international
and regional conventions on human rights.
Second: Proposed draft law to amend Article No. (13) of Law No. (11) of
1975 regarding Passports
1. The NIHR expressed its advisory opinion on the proposed law to amend
Article No. (13) of Law No. (11) of 1975 regarding passports, composed of
two articles and a preamble, where the first Article thereof contained Article
No. (13) of Law No. (11) of 1975 regarding passports grants passports to the
underage (minor) with the approval of the custodian mother, and the second
Article is executive.
2. Article No. (13) of the proposed law states “Minors are not issued separate
passports except with the approval of their legal custodians; the
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