Call for tough action against rapists

Manama: Two political societies have lent their weight to a call for the harshest lawful punishments to be brought against four naturalised Bahrainis accused of kidnapping and raping a 16-year-old boy, near his home in East Riffa.

"We are in deep shock after we heard about the gang rape of the adolescent and as we express our sympathy with the victim's family over the tragedy, we demand that the most severe action be taken against the rapists for their heinous crime," Al Asala, the second largest parliamentary bloc, spokesman said.

"The authorities need to set an example of what awaits anyone who thinks of such horrible acts. We need to be assured that our children are safe whenever they leave their homes to go anywhere." the spokesman said, the day after the victim's family appealed for national support.

Abdul Halim Murad, MP for Al Asala, said the interior ministry should have more security patrols in East Riffa where many Bahrainis have complained of feeling of uneasy because of a surge in expatriate bachelors and naturalised Bahrainis living in the area.

Crime

Seeking to take the issue to parliament, Murad requested the interior ministry to provide him with crime statistics for the last two years in Bahrain, with particular emphasis on kidnappings.

Al Wefaq, the largest parliamentary group, said the four rapists and all other naturalised Bahrainis who commit crimes should be jailed and immediately deported after serving their sentences.

"We are witnessing unprecedented cases of crime that are spreading fear and worry in the population....We do need to keep those naturalised Bahrainis away from the locals," Hassan Sultan said.

Al Wefaq has spearheaded a movement to curb the granting of the Bahraini nationality, calling for imposing a limit of 50 cases annually.