Report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry

Report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry
such capacity order them to disperse. Thereafter, he shall be
empowered to take the necessary measures for dispersing those
who have not complied with the order by arresting them and may
use force within reasonable limits against any person resisting the
said order. He may not use firearms except in extreme necessity
or when someone's life is threatened.
(2) Persons still demonstrating after the issue of the order to
disperse while being aware of such order shall be liable for
imprisonment and a fine not exceeding BD300, or either penalty.
Article 181
Every person who prevents or obstructs the issue of the order to
disperse referred to in the preceding article shall be liable for
imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years. The
prevention of the issue of the order to disperse or obstructing it
with the use of force shall not bar the taking of measures set forth
in the first paragraph of the preceding article.
Article 182
Every person who knowingly continues to demonstrate after the
prevention [of implementation] of the order to disperse or
obstructs it with the use of force shall be liable for imprisonment
or a fine not exceeding BD500 or both penalties.
823. Article 28(b) of the Constitution provides that:
Public meetings, parades and assemblies are permitted under the
rules and conditions laid down by law, but the purposes and
means of the meeting must be peaceful and must not be prejudicial
to public decency.
824. The rules and conditions for the exercise of the right of public
assembly are laid down in article 3 of Decree Law No. 18 of 1973 on the
Organisation of Public Meetings, Rallies and Assemblies, as amended by Law
No. 32 of 2006, which provides:
The law obliges anyone who organises a public meeting to serve a
notice in writing to the head of the public security regarding the
proposed meeting, as provided for by article 2 of the law. It is
obliged to serve a notice no less than three days prior to the
meeting, reduced to 24 hours if the meeting is electoral. The
notice shall incorporate the time, venue and subject matter of the
meeting and whether the purpose of the meeting is for a lecture or
general discussion.
825. With regard to the accusations levied against certain members of the
medical staff regarding discrimination against individuals due to their sect or
ethnicity, article 172 of the Bahrain Penal Code provides:
A punishment of imprisonment for a period of no more than two
years and a fine not exceeding BD200, or either penalty, shall be
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