Change proposed to traffic law scrapped in Bahrain

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A controversial amendment to the 2014 Traffic Law proposed by some MPs was scrapped yesterday.

The change would have seen people who take pictures or videos of car accidents and post them on social media punished with six months’ jail or fined BD500.

Parliament’s foreign affairs, defence and national security committee had recommended MPs reject the amendment, saying it should be more comprehensive and include taking pictures or videos of not just accidents but also crimes and fires.

When the issue was first discussed in May last year, an Interior Ministry official had urged the amendment be incorporated in the 1976 Penal Code – and have it cover fires and worksite accidents besides car crashes.

It will be now reviewed by the Shura Council and if its members ratify parliament’s decision then it would be shelved forever.

Meanwhile, parliament will hold an extraordinary session to discuss government ministers’ replies to MPs’ questions. The aim is to free up the agenda to debate important legislation.

Chairman Ahmed Al Mulla said parliament meetings were being bogged down with discussion about ministers’ responses – sometimes lasting up to two hours. Dates for the extraordinary sessions will be confirmed in the coming days.