ANYONE found guilty of insulting others on social media will face fines of up to BD20,000 and a maximum jail sentence of three years.
This is part of amendments proposed by Parliament’s foreign affairs, defence and national security committee to the 2014 Cybercrimes Law.
In 2018, the Interior Ministry pointed out that the cybercrime legislation covers crimes specifically related to Information Technology, while insulting language was covered by the 1976 Penal Code.
The Shura Council had proposed a punishment of between a day and three years in jail and fines ranging between BD1,000 and BD50,000.
However, Parliament said the penalties were not in line with other punishments.
Parliament will also vote, during its weekly session on Tuesday, to insist on its amendment to the 2006 Insurance against Unemployment to increase the payments for those sacked from 60 per cent to 70pc of the original wage.
They will also vote to insist on increasing payments to jobseekers under the amendments, both rejected by the Shura Council.
MPs will also insist on exempting citizens from paying a one-time registration fee on their property – a move rejected by the Shura Council.
Under the proposed amendments to the 2013 Real Estate Registration Law, citizens registering their property for the first time at the Survey and Land Registration Bureau would be exempt from paying 2pc of the property’s worth as a registration fee.
Parliament will also vote on a royal decree to allow the government to take $450 million from the Future Generations Fund to tackle problems associated with Covid-19.
MPs also voted to reject an amendment by former MPs to the 2006 Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority Set-up Law that would oblige it to enter in tourism projects with shares no less than 50pc, while revenues would be referred to state coffers.
MPs will vote on 10 proposals:
• Giving a BD100 monthly teaching allowance to Bahrain teachers in schools;
• Establishing Quran training centres in Northern Governorate constituency seven;
• Forming a new division under the Information and eGovernment Authority for artificial intelligence and mass data;
• Revaluating educational and vocational credentials of civil servants in a bid to give promotions and higher jobs;
• Replacing paper publications with electronic subscription of the same periodical in government offices;
• Exempting societies and centres for people with disabilities from utility bills;
• Constructing a sports walkway in Hamad Town;
• Increasing dependence on renewable “green” energy from conventional energy;
• Establishing a permanent youth city; and
• Establishing a cultural and sports club in Eker.
&uuid=(email))