THE menace of promoting unnatural acts and so-called gay rights could be tackled with jail sentences and hefty fines, if MPs get their way.
Under amendments to the 1976 Penal Code, presented by five MPs led by Mohammed Al Maarafee yesterday, the chapter on sleaze and prostitution would also include the word homosexuality.
Homosexuality has always come under the general terminology of sleaze in local law, but without it being highlighted or defined separately since such acts were not publicised 46 years ago, when crimes and punishments were first drawn up.
The proposed punishments, sought for inclusion, would see any act of homosexuality punished with no less than six months in jail and a fine between BD500 and BD2,000, unless the particular act was associated with other crimes warranting higher punishments.
Those promoting homosexuality, glorifying, encouraging and justifying it through any means would be sentenced from a day to three years in jail, or fined no less than BD1,000, or both.
“The new battle our society is facing is not one of physical warfare, it is an orchestrated, systematic attack on our values and principles through alienated and unacceptable concepts such as homosexuality being something normal and natural,” claimed Mr Al Maarafee.
“For that, such acts need to be criminalised in the Penal Code alongside sleaze and prostitution, since it is something that is rejected by society,” he added.
“Amending the Penal Code to include tough new punishments is a form of protection against those carrying out the practice or, in the bigger picture, those who promote, glorify, encourage and justify it.
“These alien practices and beliefs are being spread by sympathisers from outside.”
The suggested amendment will now be referred by Parliament Speaker Ahmed Al Musallam to the concerned committee for review.
The GDN reported in January this year that MPs have raised an alarm over alleged material promoting homosexuality being taught at private schools in the kingdom.
Parliament at the time called for immediate action against places of learning where the subject has become a part of the curricula, studies, examinations or placed within other educational material.
Parliament financial and economic affairs committee chairman Mohammed Al Ahmed waived a printout of an examination paper in English without clarifying what its contents contained, but said matters were ‘getting out of hand in the name of so-called acceptance and tolerance’.
He said that things have crossed the line as private schools are teaching the idea of acceptance and tolerance of this despicable ideology in curricula, studies, exams and other educational material.
Mr Al Ahmed said private schools come under the Education Ministry and the material being taught ought to be reviewed and any found to be in violation of agreed standards and regulations should result in disciplinary action being taken.
His comments were made as MPs approved a reply to the speech of His Majesty King Hamad at the opening of the National Assembly’s first session of the sixth legislative term in December last year.
His Majesty directed the authorities to step up measures to ensure more prosperity and a brighter future for Bahrainis, as reported in the GDN.
During his address, he added: “We will adopt only what will gain the consensus of all, so that our country, with the help of God and the determination of its sons and daughters, stands as a solid structure in the face of any intellectual invasion that contradicts the values of our tolerant Islamic law and human nature.”
Similar concerns on homosexuality have been raised by Shura Council members during a debate on their own reply in January this year.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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