PARLIAMENT has approved amendments to a 27-year-old legislation which would pave the way for protection of historic artefacts, despite a few MPs raising concerns over compensation and modes of preservation.
The proposed amendments to the 1995 Artefacts Protection Law gives the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (Baca) power to stop work on any location, block construction or fence off a site until it’s acquired by the government within a set time frame.
Services committee chairman Mamdooh Al Saleh yesterday backed the amendments, while expressing concern over the plight of citizens who were unable to take decisions on their derelict homes.
“Homes built around 50 years ago, some of which may be dilapidated, fall under the jurisdiction of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities,” he said, during Parliament’s weekly session yesterday.
“These houses are owned by citizens who are unable to restore, tear down, rebuild or sell them because they are classified as historical sites under Baca, which means they need permission from the authority to take any action regarding their own properties.”
MP Ahmed Al Salloom echoed similar sentiments, calling for a comprehensive mechanism to expedite the preservation process without damaging the rights of home owners.
“When some citizens bought these lands, they weren’t informed that the plots were classified as historical. Instead of being a source to promote and preserve our national identity, these houses have turned into a nightmare as there is no proper mechanism in place,” he said.
MP Jalal Kadhem highlighted the need for a system to compensate owners upon appropriating their land, or allow them to sell, restore, maintain or tear down and rebuild their properties.
MP Basma Mubarak said several abandoned homes were being occupied by beggars, reaffirming the importance of a prompt comprehensive solution.
Meanwhile, MP Mohammed Al Olaiwi stressed the importance of investing in cultural and heritage tourism along with medical, sports and educational tourism, while Mr Kadhem called on authorities to tap the potential of religious sites, especially historic mosques.
“We have proposed many initiatives to diversify sources of national income, but they were rejected by the government,” claimed Mr Kadhem.
“We need to look into seasonal religious tourism like the ones promoted by neighbouring countries such as Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran and Syria.
“Tourism is not just parties with alcohol. These improper behaviours have reached our conservative neighbourhoods under the name ‘lounges’ and we don’t accept that.”
He said Bahrain’s traditional mosques should be used to promote religious tourism.
MPs unanimously approved proposed amendments to the Artefacts Protection law, except for second deputy speaker Ahmed Qarrata who abstained from the vote.
It will now be referred to the Shura Council.
Parliament also approved Decree Law (44), issued by His Majesty King Hamad, amending some provisions of an agreement on the establishment of the Gulf International Bank (GIB) in 1975.
MPs referred the National Audit Office’s annual report for 2021-2022 to the financial and economic affairs committee for review.
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