Interior Minister Lieutenant-General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla A-Khalifa issued edict 57 for 2011 stipulating the duties and responsibilities of the committee in charge of organising meetings, marches and rallies.
“The panel’s prerogatives are stipulated in article 6 of the law 18 for 1973 on meetings, marches and rallies- later amended by law 23 for 2006”, Assistant Undersecretary for legal affairs said. The measure aims at containing violations which may mar marches, rallies or meetings. Under the legislation the organizational committee would be responsible for ensuring commitment to order, averting violations and prevent any subversive encroachments on public security and stability.
The Public Security chief, or his mandated delegate, shall direct the signatories of the notification on organizing a public meeting, march or rally to the necessity of first forming the above-mentioned committee. The panel shall also commit to preserve the good organization of the any public meeting, march or rally and prevent anything which may disrupt security, public order and decent ethics. The organising committee reserves the right to seek the help of policemen to disperse the public meeting, rally or march in case of irregularities and violations.