Bahrain
2026
- GOVERNMENT
- constitutional monarchy
- CONSTITUTION
- February 14, 2002; amended in 2012, 2017
- LEGAL SYSTEM
- mixed legal system of Islamic law (sharia), English common law, Egyptian civil, criminal, and commercial codes; customary law; has not submitted a declaration of jurisdiction to the ICJ
- LEGISLATIVE SYSTEM
- bicameral legislature composed of the Consultative Council and the Council of Representatives (House of Deputies)
- JUDICIAL SYSTEM
- Court of Cassation (composed of the president and 3 judges); Supreme Court of Appeal (composed of the president and 3 judges); Constitutional Court (composed of the president and 6 members); High Sharia Appeal Court (court sessions include the president and at least one judge); High civil appeal courts; intermediate and lower civil courts; High Sharia Appeal Court; High Sharia Court; Administrative Appeal Courts; military courts
RELIGIONS
Muslim 73.7%, Christian 9.3%, Jewish 0.1%, other 16.9% (estimate 2017)
From the country
- APRIL 3, 2017BahrainDEATH PENALTY
Bahrain's king approved the amendment to Article 105(b) of Bahrain's constitution granting military courts the right to try civilians, according to the official BNA news agency.
Bahrain's king approved the amendment to Article 105(b) of Bahrain's constitution granting military courts the right to try civilians, according to the official BNA news agency.
MARCH 29, 2017BahrainDEATH PENALTYBAHRAIN COURT GIVES JAIL, DEATH SENTENCES TO DISSIDENTS
A Bahraini court has handed down a jail sentence to a leader of the banned opposition al-Wefaq National Islamic Society and death and jail sentences to other anti-regime activists.
- JANUARY 15, 2017BahrainDEATH PENALTY
BAHRAIN: THREE SHI'ITES CONVICTED OF KILLING POLICEMEN EXECUTED
Bahraini authorities executed three Shi'ite Muslim men convicted of killing an Emirati police officer and two Bahraini policemen in a 2014 bomb attack.
- JANUARY 9, 2017BahrainDEATH PENALTY
BAHRAIN: DEATH SENTENCES UPHELD IN KILLING OF UAE OFFICER
Bahrain’s Cassation Court upheld the death sentence for three people found guilty of killing UAE army
- JANUARY 1, 2017BahrainDEATH PENALTY
The offences for which capital punishment either can or must
The offences for which capital punishment either can or must
DECEMBER 4, 2016BahrainDEATH PENALTYBAHRAIN: APPEALS COURT UPHOLDS THREE BOMB BLAST DEATH SENTENCES
A Bahraini Appeal Court upheld three death sentences and seven life terms against a group convicted of
- MAY 31, 2016BahrainDEATH PENALTY
BAHRAIN: DEATH SENTENCES FOR ATTACK ON POLICE UPHELD
A Bahraini appeals court upheld death sentences for three Shiites convicted of killing three policemen in a
- JANUARY 1, 2016BahrainDEATH PENALTY
The offences for which capital punishment either can or must
The offences for which capital punishment either can or must
NOVEMBER 16, 2015BahrainDEATH PENALTYBAHRAIN REJECTS DEATH SENTENCE APPEAL BY 2 OVER 2014 BOMBING
Authorities in Bahrain say an appeal by two men sentenced to death over the bombing that killed a police officer in 2014 has been rejected.
- FEBRUARY 26, 2015BahrainDEATH PENALTY
BAHRAIN: KILLERS OF UAE OFFICER GET DEATH SENTENCE
Three men were sentenced to death by a Bahrain court and seven others were given a life term for killing
- JANUARY 1, 2015BahrainDEATH PENALTY
The offences for which capital punishment either can or must
The offences for which capital punishment either can or must
- AUGUST 31, 2014BahrainDEATH PENALTY
BAHRAIN: COP KILLER GETS DEATH SENTENCE
The High Criminal Appeals Court upheld the death sentence given to a Bahraini man convicted in