Adultery law to get more teeth

Manama : Parliamentarians have recommended adding more teeth to the Kingdom’s adultery law in a bill that aims to equalize penalties for both genders. 

The bill, approved by the Foreign Affairs, Defence and National Security Committee in the House of Representatives, proposes a jail term of 10 years for women, which would be raised to 20 years if a minor is involved. 

The proposal will come into effect after amending Article 345 of Law Decree 15 of 1976 (Penal Code).

The existing law proposes a “prison term not exceeding 20 years for any person who has intercourse with a female who is more than 14 years of age, but has not reached the age of 16 years, with her
consent.”

Similarly, a prison sentence of “no more than 10 years for any person who has sexual intercourse with a female who is more than 16 years, but less than 21 years, with her consent.”

“The amendment aims to impose the same punishments for both genders as the existing law only punishes men,” MP Abdulla Binhowail,  Committee Head, told DT News. 

When asked about the status of the bill, Binhowail said that the bill was passed by the committee after holding discussions with the MPs that proposed the bill, with the relevant authorities, and after consultations with the Legislative and Legal Affairs Committee in the council and Interior Ministry.

He told DT News that a detailed report issued by the committee on the subject will be reviewed by the 40-member house soon.