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A new centre of excellence for alternative sanctions and open prisons will be set up under the Interior Ministry.
The specialised facility will help policy-makers expand and work on the alternative punishments process, to help hundreds of convicts rehabilitate back into society.
Interior Minister General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa announced ambitious plans for the new centre during the first international conference on alternative sanctions held at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay yesterday
It was attended by senior government officials, diplomats, Arab and international experts.
“We plan to establish within the Interior Ministry a centre of excellence for alternative sanctions and open prisons,” said Gen Shaikh Rashid in his opening remarks.
“The specialised centre will be dedicated to qualifying and training personnel involved in serving alternative sanctions at the regional level.”
Gen Shaikh Rashid said the alternative sanctions programme was one of the pillars of Bahrain’s humanitarian milestones.
“Every person, despite setbacks in their life, deserves an opportunity to correct their behaviour.
“The challenge lies in finding the balance and foundation between enforcing sanctions, on one hand, and fostering humanity, on the other.”
Gen Shaikh Rashid, with ministers, diplomats and senior officials at the conference yesterday
Gen Shaikh Rashid added that Bahrain is successfully implementing the alternative sentencing and open prisons programme, recognised locally, regionally and internationally.
“An alternative sanction is not a reward for those who break the law, nor is it intended for individuals who may pose a threat to public safety or social peace.
“It is an opportunity for those who have recognised their mistakes, chosen the right path and committed themselves to national responsibility.”
He added that it further strengthens national trust, reunites families and friends, and represents a legal culture that unites the nation while promoting the values of goodwill and reform.
“Bahrain is experiencing an era of renaissance, reform, humanity, and wisdom under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad,” said Gen Shaikh Rashid.
The King issued Law No 18 of 2017 on alternative sentencing, authorising the Interior Ministry to request an alternative (non-custodial) sentence for convicts after they had served half of their sentence.
Given the success of this programme, the King issued Decree Law No 24 of 2021 amending the previous law so as to give the ministry the ability to request an alternative sentence before any custodial sentence begins.
The implementation of alternative sentences was expanded by adding open prisons to the rehabilitation and training programmes designed for convicts in February 2022.
The Open Prison Complex in Hamala houses medium and high-risk convicts, and is equipped to the latest standards, computers, an educational library, an integrated sports club building and housing units established in a manner that guarantees all services and living needs.
sandy@gdnmedia.bh
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