Military courts to get more powers

Manama : Bahrain parliamentarians yesterday approved an urgent proposal to amend the constitution, allowing military courts to prosecute civilians involved in certain cases.

31 legislators out of the 36 attending the session voted for the amendment, which was initially referred to the Cabinet by a Royal Decree (7/2017) and then to the council.

It was urgently passed yesterday to the second branch of the legislative authority, Shura Council, for further approval.

The amendment stipulates the replacement of item B of Article 105 in the constitution. 

It instructs that “the jurisdiction of military courts shall be confined to military offences committed by members of the Defence Force, the National Guard, and the Security Forces.

 It does not extend to other persons except when martial law is declared and within the bounds prescribed by law”.

The amendment, replaces the existing text with, “The law regulates the military judiciary and shows its competence in each of the Defence Force, the National Guard and the Public Security.”

The voting came after prolonged discussion among the MPs, who postponed all of the other subjected scheduled for discussion during yesterday’s session.

The discussion was attended by Military Judiciary Director and Military Court of Cassation President Brigadier-General Yousif Flaifel and Assistant Undersecretary of Legal Affairs in Interior Ministry Major General Mohammed Buhamood.

They both stressed the importance of the long-awaited amendment to protect military personnel and facilities during the discussion held in the parliament yesterday.