Manama: A National DNA database containing the genetic fingerprint of every citizen and resident living in Bahrain could soon be introduced.
The move, which would compel everyone in the country to submit a DNA sample to the security services for indexing, follows the introduction of a controversial new counter-terrorism law in Kuwait early this month.
That law, passed in the wake of last month’s suicide bombing at a mosque that left 27 dead and 227 wounded, has made the fellow GCC nation the only country in the world to demand nationwide compulsory DNA testing of its citizens and residents.
Despite concerns that it constitutes a violation of the right to personal privacy, the introduction of similar legislation will now be discussed by the Bahrain parliament’s foreign affairs, defence and national security committee, its vice-chairman Jamal Bu Hassan told the GDN.
“Such a law would be beneficial as it helps to trace the identity of a person and their past associations – Bahrain would do well to adopt this,” he said. “We (the committee) will initiate a study in co-ordination with Kuwait’s parliament and look into the steps they followed.
“Regulations such as this must be seen as a measure to ensure the country’s security, instead of seeing it as a rights violation.
“The situation in the region is volatile with constant terror threats and extremist agendas being espoused.”
Mr Bu Hassan said that a database of DNA samples would help security officials keep track of suspects.
“These samples speak of a person’s family history and make it easy to identify suspects, who otherwise might look innocent,” he said.
“The committee will study all this during the summer so that we can submit a proposal when the parliamentary session resumes.”
Fellow committee member MP Nabil Al Balooshi told the GDN that any new legislation would need “thorough study” before its introduction.
“It would definitely be a move towards securing the country from terror threats, but at the same time needs study from all angles,” he said.
“After all, this is a matter of personal privacy – so we need to ensure there is a system in place to maintain the secrecy of data.
“We have to keep in mind that we are talking about the entire population here and not just suspects or criminals.”
Despite these privacy concerns, Bahrain Human Rights Watch Society secretary general Faisal Fulad backed the move citing the importance of national security.
“The law implemented in Kuwait is an excellent law in my view, as it aims to protect the country and society from terrorism,” he said.
“Bahrain must apply it to all its 600,000 plus citizens and more than 800,000 foreign residents.
“It is a violation of human rights, but protecting the country from terrorism is much more important.”
Under Kuwait’s new law, a database will be established of all the country’s 1.3 million citizens and 2.9m foreign residents.
Anyone refusing to give a DNA sample faces a year in jail and a fine of up to $33,000 (BD12,400).
International non-governmental organisation and rights activism pressure group Human Rights Watch has described the new Kuwaiti law as a violation of the right to personal privacy and called for an amendment.
“Many measures could potentially be useful in protecting against terrorist attacks, but potential usefulness is not enough to justify a massive infringement on human rights,” said the group’s Middle East director Sara Leah Whitson in a statement.
In 2008, the UK considered the introduction of a compulsory national DNA database to include the genetic information of the whole population and every visitor to the country.
However, the British Home Office ruled out such a move at the time on ethical and legal grounds.
raji@gdn.com.bh
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