Transparency concerns raised over mass marriage restrictions

TDT | Manama  

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Reported by Mahir Haneef

Restrictions on conducting mass marriages were discussed before the Bahrain Council of Representatives yesterday, with MP Hanan Mohamed Fardan raising the issue.

The MP pointed out that she has yet to get an answer to the question as to how many charitable associations are active in organising mass marriages and what the obstacles are to conducting a mass marriage.

The answers provided were vague and focused on associations needing a licence to collect money, the MP said. Further, the MP questioned the practice of trying to control the organisations, which are over 4,000 in number, from conducting mass marriages through an oral circular.

The study conducted prior to imposing restrictions was improper, and a proper procedure was not followed while imposing the restrictions, the MP submitted. Instead of trying to control the associations that violated the regulations, restrictions have been imposed on all associations, the MP said while pointing out that the focus has now moved from supporting these associations to restricting them instead.

Money collected by associations for charity has been confiscated, the MP added. H.E. Osama bin Ahmed Khalaf Al Asfoor, the Minister of Social Development, told the council that the ministry is in support of the associations and is only trying to implement the law and deal with the issues regarding the collection of money and licensing.

Over 130 associations in the Kingdom have the permission and licence to raise money and play a role in society, the minister pointed out. Associations can only collect and disburse money for the purpose for which they were established, whereas some of the associations collected money and used it for other purposes than specified in the licence, the minister explained.