Bahraini court pays $2.6m as compensation

Assistant Undersecretary for Courts and Notary Affairs at the Ministry of Justice and Islamic Affairs and Endowments, Judge Khalid Hassan Ajaji, has announced that disbursement of compensation to the families of 17 deceased persons has begun in keeping with the implementation of the recommendations of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI). The compensation totaling $2.6 million for the current 17 cases was assessed on the basis of civil court precedents and averages out to just under $153,000 per case.

Judge Ajaji, quoted by the IAA, told a local newspaper that the Civil Settlements Office started its activities in March of this year and continues to receive claims for compensation.

The civil settlement initiative is being implemented under Royal directives to promptly remedy damages caused by recent events and to compensate the victims. This initiative benefits the families of the deceased, those who suffered physical injury, and any other cases as deemed appropriate by the Ministry concerned, in consultation with relevant departments.

The BICI welcomed the establishment of the Victim’s Compensation Fund by the Royal Decree on September 20, 2011. The decree was designed to disburse compensation based on international best practices for compensation of victims and in accordance with the United Nations Basic Principles and guidelines on the right to redress and reparation for victims of gross violations of international human rights.