Workshop proposes tougher penalties for terror crimes

Manama : A regional counter-terrorism workshop held here yesterday has recommended tougher penalties for terror crimes, including death and life imprisonment to achieve deterrence. 

The workshop was organised by the Parliamentary Training Centre at the General Secretariat of the House of Representatives in cooperation with Bahrain Institute for Political Development (BIPD).

The workshop saw the participation of Information Affairs Ministry in Bahrain, the League of Arab States, House of Representatives and Shura Council and parliamentary delegations from different Arab countries.

The delegations from Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Sudan, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Egypt, Morocco and Palestine, reviewed their experiments in defeating terrorism in four sessions held at the workshop.

“The phenomenon of terrorism has become a serious threat to all countries and societies. No country can distance itself from the dangers of this phenomenon,” said a joint statement issued by the participating delegations at the end of the workshop.

The delegation issued 28 recommendations that will be adopted by the Permanent Human Rights in the League of Arab States.

A major recommendation included tightening the penalties imposed for terrorist crimes to achieve deterrence, with maximum penalties prescribed by comparative laws and regulations such as death and life imprisonment.

The delegations agreed to review the legislative councils of the Arab States for their national counter-terrorism legislations and to develop it periodically to combat terrorism in all its forms and to develop its crimes in line with human rights.  

The recommendations also tackled the media, instructing to review legislations related to the media and press, in order to draw clearer boundaries between what is considered an expression of opinion and what is a promotion of ideas related to terrorism, in addition to uniting the Arab media towards terrorism and extremism.

The workshop also recommended organising more joint events and conferences to tackle terrorism and extremism, cybercrime, promote moderate religious speeches and mobilise international opinion against terrorism.

The delegations which attended the workshop expressed their gratitude, appreciation and support to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa for patronising human rights and combatting terrorism.