Vandalisation of banners and posters of candidates continues as election campaign gains momentum across the country.
Billboards of at least three candidates were torn down in Ramli – a major district in the Northern Governorate – including that of sitting MP and outgoing first deputy chairman Abdulnabi Salman. Several banners put up by Nayef Hammoud and Nadia Moosa were also ripped apart.
All three poll hopefuls contesting from the governorate’s Constituency Six covering A’ali and Ramli districts, refused to comment on the incidents.
Sources told the GDN that the posters and billboards that were damaged were placed on the ground in front of the Ramli housing complex, a government allocated land.
The acts of vandalism “were reported on Thursday night and almost all banners and billboards (in front of the complex) were torn down,” said the source.
“They were placed on an open land in front of the government houses in Ramli. Several banners put up by the three candidates – Mr Salman, Mr Hammoud and Ms Moosa – were destroyed.”
The three are among at least eight hopefuls contesting the polls from the area. The others are Mohammed Al Qallaf, Abdulla Al Hammadi, Mohammed Al A’ali, Hamid Abdul Redha and Ahmed Al Jabri.
The GDN earlier reported several such incidents from across the country. At least five billboards belonging to MP Ammar Al Mukhtar, who is contesting from Capital Governorate’s Constituency Nine (South Sitra, East Eker, Ma’ameer and East Sitra), were set on fire by unknown people on October 9. Mr Al Mukhtar also refrained from commenting on the ‘sensitive’ incident.
Two Parliament candidates from Capital Governorate’s Constituency Seven (Jid Ali, Jurdab and Al Nasfa) – Basel Al Arrayedh and Rabab Shamsan – and Parliament candidate Mohammed Buhazza, running for a seat in Southern Governorate’s Constituency Two (Isa Town – Eastern Part) saw their banners ripped apart.
More than 500 Bahrainis are contesting for 40 Parliament and 30 municipal council seats in national elections to be held on November 12.
Meanwhile, authorities have warned candidates over poll violations as police have reportedly received several complaints from residents on billboards blocking views of roads and obstructing traffic.
The Capital Municipality highlighted several violations of this kind on its social media, urging candidates to be wary – or face legal action.
“It is forbidden to put advertisements on sidewalks and public places that are dedicated to public services, as per laws (decision 141 of 2022) governing the national elections,” said the statement.
“Massive billboards and banners have been erected on sidewalks and dividers, which hinders view,” said a resident in Muharraq, adding that it could lead to major traffic accidents.
“Some of these banners block shop entrances intimidating customers while some billboards are a hindrance for garages as people are finding it difficult to take their cars out.
“We wish candidates rectify their mistakes and refrain from creating such obstacles.”
raji@gdnmedia.bh
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