Manama: A number of minors who took part in riots and acts of vandalism in villages have been arrested, an interior ministry official has said.
Bahrain Interior Ministry Assistant Undersecretary for Legal Affairs Major-General Mohammad Buhammoud said that legal actions were taken against them.
Their parents signed written pledges not to expose their young sons to acts of delinquency.
They were ordered to bring their children to the relevant police directorates in order to appear before the Juvenile Prosecution, as per the instructions of the Public Prosecution, he added.
In a statement released late on Saturday, Buhammoud said that the measures affirmed the rule of the law and reflected keenness on the future of deluded youngsters since engaging in criminal activities at such an early age endangered their future and even their lives. He stressed that their protection was a collective responsibility.
"The acts of sabotage and rioting they committed might jeopardise their future and put their lives as well as the lives of other people at risk," he said.
One detainee admitted to committing acts of sabotage and participating in an illegal rally to disrupt public order and attack police patrols.
He also confessed to setting tyres ablaze, hurling iron rods and blocking roads to disrupt the flow of traffic.
Buhammoud stressed the firm resolve of the security forces to defend the nation, protect society, hold accountable plotters and accomplices who are involved in inciting, aiding and abetting to commit crimes and refer them to the competent authorities for investigation.
He urged parents to assume their responsibility and protect their children from incitement and lawbreaking and to provide them with guidance.
Under Bahrain's laws, “imprisonment of not less than one year and/ or a fine of up to BD2,000 are imposed on anyone who has been given the responsibility of a juvenile but neglects him in a way that he commits a crime."
The Assistant Undersecretary said that parents were responsible for protecting their children from being instigated and for preventing them from engaging in illegal activities.
