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Daily Tribune
26-06-2025
- Daily Tribune
‘Seek voluntary treatment'
Drug users in Bahrain can avoid prosecution by voluntarily seeking treatment, but face legal action if caught with narcotics in their system, a Bahraini lawyer has said. Marking the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, Jassim Al Issa explained that the law allows addicts or their relatives, up to the fourth degree, to request admission into a rehabilitation centre. In such cases, no criminal case is filed and the addict is treated without being sent to court. Charges 'If the person is caught using, or if traces are found in their blood, then the Public Prosecution brings charges,' he told The Daily Tribune. Al Issa referred to Law No. 15 of 2007, which sets out clear differences between users, promoters and traffickers. Penalties rise sharply depending on the individual's role. Someone found in possession of banned substances for personal use may face a fine of up to BD3,000 or jail time, under Article 32. Article 35 sets a maximum penalty of six months' imprisonment and a BD100 fine for certain acts committed without authorisation. Sterner treatment By contrast, traffickers face much sterner treatment. Offences under Article 30 carry penalties of life imprisonment or death, along with a fine ranging from BD5,000 to BD50,000. These penalties apply to those who import, produce, sell or fund narcotics or restricted plants, whether directly or through others. The law lists types of substances in detailed schedules covering both chemical and botanical forms. Tougher sentencing applies in cases involving repeat offenders, public servants tasked with drug enforcement, the use of minors, involvement in cross-border trafficking, or misuse of legal protection or position. Accidental violations 'The law also addresses banned prescriptions and restricted ingredients in certain medicines,' said Al Issa. 'This helps define what is prohibited and makes it easier to avoid accidental violations.' He urged addicts and their families to make use of the law's provision for voluntary treatment. 'A request can be submitted by the user or by a spouse or close relative. It prevents a criminal record and gives the person a chance to move on,' he said. 'This is far better than court-ordered rehabilitation, which still leads to a case being registered. Even if time spent in the facility is deducted from the sentence, the charge remains.'
Daily Tribune
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Tribune
Visiting Indian scholar urges vigilance against erasing historical truths
Much of modern history is being distorted, and the world must act urgently to protect historical truth before it vanishes, renowned Indian historian P. Hareendranath has warned during a visit to Bahrain. 'The duty of history students like me is to help ordinary people understand who the real figures of history were, before they are rewritten or erased,' he told The Daily Tribune in Manama. Hareendranath, a former history teacher and author of two widely acclaimed historical books, said he fears the erosion of truth in public memory is accelerating. 'Many today write history without collecting, verifying, or interpreting facts properly. That is how myths and riddles replace reality,' he said. Gandhi Example The historian used the life of Mahatma Gandhi as a case study of distortion and neglect. 'The Mahatma is being made invisible in today's world, yet his light only grows brighter with time,' he said. He described Gandhi not as a figure of religion or region, but of humanity. 'Gandhi saw no 'otherness'. He embraced all people as human beings, not as categories.' According to Hareendranath, Gandhi's transformation began in South Africa in 1893 when he was thrown off a train for being perceived as Black. That experience, he said, awakened Gandhi to systemic injustice and sparked his lifelong commitment to non-violence. Books and Awards Hareendranath's historical works include India: Darkness and Light and Mahatma Gandhi: Time and Action 1869-1925. The books, which took over a decade to complete, have earned him multiple awards including the Rashtraseva Puraskaram and the K.V. Surendranath Award. He said his research taught him that many criticisms of Gandhi stem from ignorance. 'Once I explored his life through facts, I saw the difference between propaganda and truth,' he said.
Daily Tribune
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Tribune
‘History Under Threat' ; Visiting Indian scholar urges vigilance against erasing historical truths
pradeep@ Much of modern history is being distorted, and the world must act urgently to protect historical truth before it vanishes, renowned Indian historian P. Hareendranath has warned during a visit to Bah- rain. 'The duty of history students like me is to help ordinary peo- ple understand who the real figures of history were, before they are rewritten or erased,' he told The Daily Tribune in Manama. Hareendranath, a former history teacher and author of two widely acclaimed historical books, said he fears the erosion of truth in public memory is accelerating. 'Many today write history without collecting, verifying, or interpreting facts properly. That is how myths and riddles replace reality,' he said. Gandhi Example The historian used the life of Mahatma Gandhi as a case study of distortion and neglect. 'The Mahatma is being made invisible in today's world, yet his light only grows brighter with time,' he said. He described Gandhi not as a figure of religion or region, but of humanity. 'Gandhi saw no 'otherness'. He embraced all people as human beings, not as categories.' According to Hareendranath, Gandhi's transformation began in South Africa in 1893 when he was thrown off a train for being perceived as Black. That experience, he said, awakened Gandhi to systemic injustice and sparked his life- long commitment to non-violence. Books and Awards Hareendranath's historical works include India: Darkness and Light and Mahatma Gan- dhi: Time and Action 1869-1925. The books, which took over a decade to complete, have earned him multiple awards including the Rashtraseva Pu- raskaram and the K.V. Suren- dranath Award. He said his research taught him that many criticisms of Gandhi stem from ignorance. 'Once I explored his life through facts, I saw the differ- ence between propaganda and truth,' he said.
Daily Tribune
15-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Tribune
The Benefit of Digital Payments
The future of money is expected to be heavily influenced by technology. The Ministry of Industry & Commerce this Friday made it mandatory for every business in Bahrain, regardless of size or number of outlets, to give customers the option of paying digitally. This move will help the Kingdom to surmount the last-mile barriers to complete digital payment. Soon, those hawkers of fresh fish and fruits in public places will also give us the option of paying digitally – something which many already do. We are potentially standing at the cusp of a financial revolution. The future of money is expected to be heavily influenced by technology. The world is approaching a tipping point where cash phases out and digital currencies reign supreme. Surprisingly, one cluster of nations that has taken the lead are African nations, where mobile finance transactions took off as early as the 2000s. And India's digital financial transactions – harnessed by hawkers, roadside vendors, and glitzy showrooms – generate transaction values of approximately 450 million rupees per day. Coming to Bahrain, we also need to look into non-commercial transactions. For a country that prides itself on its e-governance, we are still lagging behind in simple e-transactions to pay for government services. My pet peeve has always been the street parking meters. Why can't we simply swipe our phones on a barcode and pay for parking instead of hunting for a meter (often one that doesn't work)? (Captain Mahmood Al Mahmood is the Editor-in-Chief of The Daily Tribune and the President of the Arab-African Unity Organisation for Relief, Human Rights and Counterterrorism)
Daily Tribune
20-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Tribune
Model of productivity
Ninety-seven per cent of legislative items referred to the Council of Representatives' Financial Committee were completed last session, making it the most productive committee, its chairman Ahmed Al Salloom told The Daily Tribune. The committee cleared 133 out of 137 files during the third session of the sixth term. The figure was disclosed during a joint press conference yesterday hosted by the Council's secretariat, where all five standing committees presented their work. In total, 396 items were completed across the Council's committee system. Al Salloom said the financial committee dealt with a wide mix of subjects, including 33 draft laws, five royal decrees, 16 law proposals and 25 motions. Reports It also reviewed two reports on sovereign funds, the state's final account and 51 requests for opinion. The committee issued 79 reports, held 43 meetings and sent out 574 official letters. Speaking to The Daily Tribune, Al Salloom said one of the proposals now under review is to divert a share of revenue from taxes on multinational firms into the pension fund. 'The idea is to restore balance after pensioners lost their annual three per cent rise a few years ago,' he said. Shortfalls The committee has proposed this as a way to reduce shortfalls and help finance the return of that increase. Other major topics handled by the committee included a proposed income tax on foreign investments and the public debt law, which now includes a fixed deadline for repayment. He added that the secured transactions bill, which would allow troubled businesses to pledge movable assets, is expected to progress in the next session. The lawmaker also confirmed that a final account for the Unemployment Insurance Fund had been submitted for the first time. Economic agreements Al Salloom also commented on Bahrain's recent economic agreements. 'They're there to build strong ties with nearby countries and attract more investment. The point is to draw in reliable capital, improve the economy and increase jobs for Bahrainis,' he said. MP Mahmoud Fardan, chairman of the Legislative and Legal Affairs Committee, said his committee examined 58 matters, including four royal decrees, 23 draft laws, eight proposals, 21 motions, one Shura Council decision and a request to lift parliamentary immunity. A further 155 topics were passed on for notice only. He said the committee completed 40 of its core items, giving it a 91 per cent finish rate. Meetings The committee held 27 meetings and sent out 337 letters. It produced 31 reports. One of the lengthier files, Fardan said, was the draft law on the legal profession, which was referred late in the session. 'We sent 33 questions to the Ministry of Justice over three stages and looked at similar laws in the Gulf and Egypt,' he said. 'This version brings in new lawyer lists, clearer fees, and a different structure.'
