Woman MP rapped for appearing on social media in ‘home clothes’

A Bahraini lawyer yesterday announced that she has filed a lawsuit against a female MP for appearing in videos on social media in “home clothes” and in an “inappropriate” manner that doesn’t fit a parliamentarian, Tribune has learnt. The lawyer demanded the Public Prosecution to revoke the MP’s parliamentary immunity and to take the necessary legal procedures against her.

This came as lawyer Fatima Al Hawaj announced in a post she shared on Twitter yesterday that she had filed a complaint against the MP, accusing the latter of causing inconvenience to others by misusing telecommunication networks, a crime that is punishable by imprisonment as per the provisions of Article 290 of the Kingdom’s Penal Code. Article 290 states: “A punishment of imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or a fine not exceeding BD50 shall be inflicted upon any person who deliberately causes inconvenience to others by misusing telecommunications networks.”

The lawyer shared pictures of the complaint papers that she said she had submitted yesterday to the Public Prosecution. The papers mentioned that the MP shared footage of herself speaking about the benefits of narcotic substances, stating that she, the MP, “appeared as if she was inciting the society to use it”. The lawyer also mentioned in her complaint that the MP appeared in “home clothes”and in an “inappropriate” manner for a parliamentarian. Ms Al Hawaj said that the complaint comes as “the MP’s actions are not appropriate for the Bahraini parliament and the Bahraini people, who chose her to represent them and defend their rights”.

The lawyer added that the MP posted contents on Instagram and Snapchat which “degrades and affects the dignity of the people of Bahrain”, in addition to “speaking about people with disabilities in an inappropriate manner that carried mockery of their suffering”. The MP is known for her activities on social media networks even before she was elected last year.

She usually posts highlights of her social activities on Instagram and Snapchat and uses these channels to directly engage with her followers, who are more than 25,000 on Instagram alone. The MP didn’t comment on Ms Al Hawaj’s complaint.