Manama: King Hamad of Bahrain has approved a law imposing a jail sentence of up to seven years and a fine of up to 10,000 dinars (Dh97,409) for anyone who publicly insults him.
The measure highlights the regional sensitivity to criticism of senior officials and ruling family members as well as to political dissent. Courts in Kuwait and Qatar have imposed jail terms on several nationals for insulting their rulers in past years.
The new law, reported by the state Bahrain News Agency on Tuesday, says the penalties apply to “whoever has insulted, in any kind of public manner, the king of Bahrain, or its flag, or its national emblem”.
A previous law stipulated that anyone who “offends the Emir of the country, the national flag or emblem” would be jailed, but did not set a term. Under the penal code, any prison term must last 10 days to three years unless otherwise specified.
Bahraini lawyer Jalila Sayed said the new law stipulated a tougher prison sentence of one to seven years as well as a fine of 1,000 to 10,000 dinars for insulting the king.
Bahrain has been shaken by persistent unrest since mostly Shiite Muslim demonstrators took to the streets in February 2011 to call for reforms. A smaller, more radical group of protesters has, however, called for a regime change.
Stalled reconciliation talks between the ruling family and the Shiite opposition were recently revived after the intervention of Crown Prince Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
But mistrust remains high three years after the authorities quelled the initial wave of protests.
Demonstrators still frequently clash with police in Bahrain.
