MP retains immunity amid claims of ‘unethical practices’ in Amwaj

TDT | Manama

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MP Hamad Al Doy has escaped prosecution for labelling Amwaj Island’s shores as “rife with prostitution” last May. During a fiery closed-door session yesterday, 30 MPs voted to shield him with parliamentary immunity, sparking outrage from critics who claim the decision sets a dangerous precedent.

The accusations, brought by fellow MPs Ahmed Al Salloom and Khalid Buanaq, were dismissed by Al Doy as politically motivated attacks designed to silence his scrutiny of the area. The controversy erupted during a parliamentary session when Al Doy accused Amwaj’s shores of inappropriate behaviour, sparking accusations from MPs Ahmed Al Salloom and Khalid Buanaq that his comments insulted the island’s residents and tarnished their reputation.

Matters escalated when Al Doy reinforced his stance on X (formerly Twitter), challenging the complainants to consult the public on whether they condoned the behaviours he criticised, while reaffirming his principles and values. Before the vote, the Council opted to hold the debate behind closed doors, ejecting journalists and media staff to allow a more discreet discussion.

Public scrutiny

Sources said the decision to close the session was made to address the sensitive matter away from public scrutiny. Parliamentary rules permit private sessions if the majority agrees they are needed. During the session, Al Doy presented his defence, arguing that the complaint was politically driven. He claimed it was an attempt to block his efforts to scrutinise issues in Amwaj, particularly as one of the complainants heads the homeowners’ association for the area.

Conflict of interest

Al Doy suggested this created a conflict of interest and said the complaint would not have been filed had he not spoken out about alleged failings in the area. While Al Doy expressed a willingness to reconcile, he noted that attempts to resolve the matter had failed because the complainants demanded he issue a public apology and refrain from raising issues related to Amwaj in future. Al Doy said these demands were evidence of the complaint’s personal and political nature. He also defended his choice of words, saying that ‘prostitution’ had been used in earlier parliamentary discussions without issue.

Comments

He clarified that his comments were not aimed at Amwaj residents, many of whom he said he holds in high regard, but were instead intended to protect Bahraini families. He also highlighted his decision not to share images or videos of alleged incidents to protect Bahrain’s standing. Al Doy said his post on X was a natural extension of his parliamentary remarks and argued that he was exercising his right to speak freely. The post included a call for the complainants to consult the public on whether they supported the behaviours Al Doy criticised.

Vote

Efforts to mediate between the MPs, led by the Speaker and others, failed to resolve the issue, leading to yesterday’s vote. Reports from inside the closed session described a tense atmosphere, with MPs sharply divided on how to handle the matter. The decision to uphold Al Doy’s immunity may close this chapter, but the dispute over Amwaj’s shores and the political rifts it has exposed are likely to rumble on.