| BAHRAIN Kingdom of Bahrain Mamlakat al Bahrayn Joined United Nations: 21 September 1971 Human Rights as assured by their constitution Updated 08 March 2013 |
Chapter III Public Rights and Duties
Article 17 [Citizenship]
a. Bahraini nationality shall be determined by law. A person inherently enjoying his Bahraini nationality cannot be stripped of his nationality
except in case of treason, and such other cases as prescribed by law.
b. It is prohibited to banish a citizen from Bahrain or prevent him from returning to it.
Article 18 [Human Dignity, Equality]
People are equal in human dignity, and citizens are equal before the law in public rights and duties. There shall be no discrimination among
them on the basis of sex, origin, language, religion or creed.
Article 19 [Personal Freedom]
a. Personal freedom is guaranteed under the law.
b. A person cannot be arrested, detained , imprisoned or searched, or his place of residence specified or his freedom of residence or
movement restricted, except under the provisions of the law and under judicial supervision.
c. A person cannot be detained or imprisoned in locations other than those designated in the prison regulations covered by health and
social care and subject to control by the judicial authority.
d. No person shall be subjected to physical or mental torture, or inducement, or undignified treatment, and the penalty for so doing shall
be specified by law. Any statement or confession proved to have been made under torture, inducement, or such treatment, or the threat
thereof, shall be null and void.
Article 20 [Criminal Trials]
a. There shall be no crime and no punishment except under a law, and punishment only for acts committed subsequent to the effective
date of the law providing for the same.
b. Punishment is personal.
c. An accused person is innocent until proved guilty in a legal trial in which he is assured of the necessary guarantees to exercise the right
of defence at all stages of the investigation and trial in accordance with the law.
d. It is forbidden to harm an accused person physically or mentally.
e. Every person accused of an offence must have a lawyer to defend him with his consent.
f. The right to litigate is guaranteed under the law.
Article 21 [Asylum]
The extradition of political refugees is prohibited.
Article 22 [Conscience, Religion]
Freedom of conscience is absolute. The State guarantees the inviolability of worship, and the freedom to perform religious rites and hold
religious parades and meetings in accordance with the customs observed in the country.
Article 23 [Expression]
Freedom of opinion and scientific research is guaranteed. Everyone has the right to express his opinion and publish it by word of mouth,
in writing or otherwise under the rules and conditions laid down by law, provided that the fundamental beliefs of Islamic doctrine are not
infringed, the unity of the people is not prejudiced, and discord or sectarianism is not aroused.
Article 24 [Press]
With due regard for the provisions of the preceding Article, the freedom of the press, printing and publishing is guaranteed under the rules
and conditions laid down by law.
Article 25 [Home]
Dwellings are inviolate. They cannot be entered or searched without the permission of their occupants exception in cases of maximum
necessity as laid down and in the manner provided by law.
Article 26 [Communication]
The freedom of postal, telegraphic, telephonic and electronic communication is safeguarded and its confidentiality is guaranteed.
Communications shall not be censored or their confidentiality breached except in exigencies specified by law and in accordance with
procedures and under guarantees prescribed by law.
Article 27 [Associations, Trade Unions]
The freedom to form associations and unions on national principles, for lawful objectives and by peaceful means is guaranteed under the
rules and conditions laid down by law, provided that the fundamentals of the religion and public order are not infringed. No one can be
forced to join any association or union or to continue as a member.
Article 28 [Assembly]
a. Individuals are entitled to assemble privately without a need for permission or prior notice, and no member of the security forces may
attend their private meetings.
b. Public meetings, parades and assemblies are permitted under the rules and conditions laid down by law, but the purposes and means of
the meeting must be peaceful and must not be prejudicial to public decency.
Article 29 [Petition]
Any individual may address the public authorities in writing over his signature. Group approaches to the authorities may only be made by
statutory bodies and corporate persons.
Article 30 [Military Service]
a. Peace is the objective of the State. The safety of the nation is part of the safety of the Arab homeland as a whole, and its defence is a
sacred duty of every citizen. Performance of military service is an honour for citizens and is regulated by law.
b. Only the State may establish the Defence Force, National Guard, and Public Security services. Non-citizens are assigned such tasks
only in case of maximum necessity and in the manner prescribed by
c. General or partial mobilisation shall be regulated by law.
Article 31 [Restrictions]
The public rights and freedoms stated in this Constitution may only be regulated or limited by or in accordance with the law, and such
regulation or limitation may not prejudice the essence of the right or freedom.
Article 17 [Citizenship]
a. Bahraini nationality shall be determined by law. A person inherently enjoying his Bahraini nationality cannot be stripped of his nationality
except in case of treason, and such other cases as prescribed by law.
b. It is prohibited to banish a citizen from Bahrain or prevent him from returning to it.
Article 18 [Human Dignity, Equality]
People are equal in human dignity, and citizens are equal before the law in public rights and duties. There shall be no discrimination among
them on the basis of sex, origin, language, religion or creed.
Article 19 [Personal Freedom]
a. Personal freedom is guaranteed under the law.
b. A person cannot be arrested, detained , imprisoned or searched, or his place of residence specified or his freedom of residence or
movement restricted, except under the provisions of the law and under judicial supervision.
c. A person cannot be detained or imprisoned in locations other than those designated in the prison regulations covered by health and
social care and subject to control by the judicial authority.
d. No person shall be subjected to physical or mental torture, or inducement, or undignified treatment, and the penalty for so doing shall
be specified by law. Any statement or confession proved to have been made under torture, inducement, or such treatment, or the threat
thereof, shall be null and void.
Article 20 [Criminal Trials]
a. There shall be no crime and no punishment except under a law, and punishment only for acts committed subsequent to the effective
date of the law providing for the same.
b. Punishment is personal.
c. An accused person is innocent until proved guilty in a legal trial in which he is assured of the necessary guarantees to exercise the right
of defence at all stages of the investigation and trial in accordance with the law.
d. It is forbidden to harm an accused person physically or mentally.
e. Every person accused of an offence must have a lawyer to defend him with his consent.
f. The right to litigate is guaranteed under the law.
Article 21 [Asylum]
The extradition of political refugees is prohibited.
Article 22 [Conscience, Religion]
Freedom of conscience is absolute. The State guarantees the inviolability of worship, and the freedom to perform religious rites and hold
religious parades and meetings in accordance with the customs observed in the country.
Article 23 [Expression]
Freedom of opinion and scientific research is guaranteed. Everyone has the right to express his opinion and publish it by word of mouth,
in writing or otherwise under the rules and conditions laid down by law, provided that the fundamental beliefs of Islamic doctrine are not
infringed, the unity of the people is not prejudiced, and discord or sectarianism is not aroused.
Article 24 [Press]
With due regard for the provisions of the preceding Article, the freedom of the press, printing and publishing is guaranteed under the rules
and conditions laid down by law.
Article 25 [Home]
Dwellings are inviolate. They cannot be entered or searched without the permission of their occupants exception in cases of maximum
necessity as laid down and in the manner provided by law.
Article 26 [Communication]
The freedom of postal, telegraphic, telephonic and electronic communication is safeguarded and its confidentiality is guaranteed.
Communications shall not be censored or their confidentiality breached except in exigencies specified by law and in accordance with
procedures and under guarantees prescribed by law.
Article 27 [Associations, Trade Unions]
The freedom to form associations and unions on national principles, for lawful objectives and by peaceful means is guaranteed under the
rules and conditions laid down by law, provided that the fundamentals of the religion and public order are not infringed. No one can be
forced to join any association or union or to continue as a member.
Article 28 [Assembly]
a. Individuals are entitled to assemble privately without a need for permission or prior notice, and no member of the security forces may
attend their private meetings.
b. Public meetings, parades and assemblies are permitted under the rules and conditions laid down by law, but the purposes and means of
the meeting must be peaceful and must not be prejudicial to public decency.
Article 29 [Petition]
Any individual may address the public authorities in writing over his signature. Group approaches to the authorities may only be made by
statutory bodies and corporate persons.
Article 30 [Military Service]
a. Peace is the objective of the State. The safety of the nation is part of the safety of the Arab homeland as a whole, and its defence is a
sacred duty of every citizen. Performance of military service is an honour for citizens and is regulated by law.
b. Only the State may establish the Defence Force, National Guard, and Public Security services. Non-citizens are assigned such tasks
only in case of maximum necessity and in the manner prescribed by
c. General or partial mobilisation shall be regulated by law.
Article 31 [Restrictions]
The public rights and freedoms stated in this Constitution may only be regulated or limited by or in accordance with the law, and such
regulation or limitation may not prejudice the essence of the right or freedom.
Humans have inhabited Bahrain for 5,000 years but the first significant period was in the first
century CE when the Greeks discovered the island naming it Tylos which became
eventually became a center of Christianity which lasted until 835. Bahrain was one of the
first adherents of Islam beginning in 629 which was introduced by the Arab tribe Bani Abd
al-Qais. The Al-Qaramita sect of Islam dominated Bahrain with the goal to build a society
based on reason, tolerance and equality and dominated until 1026. Various tribes battled for
control through the 16th Century when the Portuguese invaded the islands in 1521 with a
goal of dominating the spice trade. The Persians routed the Portuguese in 1602, dominating
until Oman attacked in 1717. Oman eventually sold Bahrain back to the Iranians but in 1783
the Al-Khalifa clan of Qatar attacked Bahrain with the support of other Bedouin Arabs
signing a treaty with the British in 1820 , touching off the colonization of Bahrain by the
British. The discovery of oil in 1932, the first in the Persian Gulf, gave a new strategic value to
Bahrain, supplanting the traditional pearl industry. Following Bahrain's support of the Allies
in World War II, a serious bid for independence developed with Bahrain first joining the
Union of Trucial States in 1968 and, finally, obtaining independence as the State of Bahrain
on 15 August 1971. The present constitution was adopted on 14 February 2002. Human
rights are enumerated beginning with Chapter III (Public Rights and Duties), conform with
the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights of which Bahrain is a signatory and are
detailed below. For a full English translation of Bahrain's Constitution, click here.
century CE when the Greeks discovered the island naming it Tylos which became
eventually became a center of Christianity which lasted until 835. Bahrain was one of the
first adherents of Islam beginning in 629 which was introduced by the Arab tribe Bani Abd
al-Qais. The Al-Qaramita sect of Islam dominated Bahrain with the goal to build a society
based on reason, tolerance and equality and dominated until 1026. Various tribes battled for
control through the 16th Century when the Portuguese invaded the islands in 1521 with a
goal of dominating the spice trade. The Persians routed the Portuguese in 1602, dominating
until Oman attacked in 1717. Oman eventually sold Bahrain back to the Iranians but in 1783
the Al-Khalifa clan of Qatar attacked Bahrain with the support of other Bedouin Arabs
signing a treaty with the British in 1820 , touching off the colonization of Bahrain by the
British. The discovery of oil in 1932, the first in the Persian Gulf, gave a new strategic value to
Bahrain, supplanting the traditional pearl industry. Following Bahrain's support of the Allies
in World War II, a serious bid for independence developed with Bahrain first joining the
Union of Trucial States in 1968 and, finally, obtaining independence as the State of Bahrain
on 15 August 1971. The present constitution was adopted on 14 February 2002. Human
rights are enumerated beginning with Chapter III (Public Rights and Duties), conform with
the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights of which Bahrain is a signatory and are
detailed below. For a full English translation of Bahrain's Constitution, click here.