Last week, Bahrain has implemented new law restricting the scope of direct contacts with political associations or parties without a prior notification to Justice Ministry three days ahead of such meeting or contact.
In response to the people’s will as represented by the National Assembly, and the responsibilities of the Ministry of Justice and Islamic Affairs, in accordance with the Political Societies Law No. 26 of 2005, the Minister of Justice issued Resolution No. (31) on the regulation of communications between local political societies, and foreign parties or political organizations.
“We thus wish to emphasize that regulating the relationship between local political societies and the representatives of the government on the one hand, and foreign institutions and organizations on the other hand, is the adopted procedure to ensure transparency of political activities,” the Minister explained during a Press conference in presence of the State Minister for Information Affairs, Sameera bin Rajab.
The resolution stipulates that all communications between political societies and diplomatic missions and consulates in the kingdom and representatives of foreign governments have to be coordinated with the ministry of foreign affairs, and in the presence of one of its own representatives or any other official entrusted to do so.
Resolution No. (31), for the purposes of protecting the freedom of political activities in a transparent and open environment, has stipulated that any political society wishing to make such contacts shall notify the Ministry of Justice and Islamic Affairs at least three days in advance, which in turn will coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The same rules apply to communications of political societies with any foreign political organizations abroad.
According to Article I of the Ministerial Decree No. (4) of 2005 on the rules of communication between political societies and foreign political parties or organizations, the political society may, through its leader or his deputy, contact any recognized foreign political party or organization to carry out transparent, open and legitimate activities, to promote political, social and economic growth and deepen cultural and political practices within the framework of legitimacy, national unity, social peace and democracy.
Emphasizing and protecting the principle of the practice of political activity openly, according to the law and the statute of political societies, to participate in political life, to achieve specific programs related to the political, economic and social affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain, must be the objective which all political societies should safeguard and promote to ensure the fulfillment of the principles and values of political activity and its development, hence the development of the democratic system.