The restorative criminal justice system in Bahrain is continuously evolving, a top Public Prosecution official has affirmed.
The range of crimes eligible for reconciliation has already been expanded, and there are ongoing studies considering the possibility of further broadening the scope of cases covered by criminal mediation in the future, Restorative Justice Prosecution Chief Nasser Al Sheeb told our sister paper Akhbar Al Khaleej.
“This aligns with the efforts to enhance restorative justice and could eventually lead to the issuance of a dedicated law for mediation in criminal matters, drawing from the latest international experiences and reconciliation-based practices, without conflicting with the principles of criminal justice,” he said yesterday.
The implementation of the criminal mediation system in Bahrain is a significant step towards strengthening restorative justice, Mr Al Sheeb noted.
“This has contributed significantly to the justice system and society by reducing the burden on courts, lowering the number of cases, speeding up litigation procedures and achieving justice more efficiently,” he said. “It also offers an effective alternative to traditional penalties by focusing on settlement, promotes a spirit of forgiveness and reconciliation in society and helps reduce disputes.”
Mr Al Sheeb added that certain crimes may be resolved through reconciliation, settlement or waiver, in a manner that ensures restorative justice with the victim’s consent and without violating public order.
“When the legal conditions are met and the law explicitly allows for it, the criminal case is dismissed by the force of law after the disputing parties agree on the rules and method of the mediation process.
“If no agreement is reached, the mediator has the right to carry out the mediation using the approach and rules they deem appropriate without violating public order,” he said, reviewing a number of crimes subject to the law, which stand at around 26.
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