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
- 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 PENALTYBAHRAIN: 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 PENALTY
BAHRAIN: 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 PENALTY
BAHRAIN 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 PENALTYBAHRAIN: COP KILLER GETS DEATH SENTENCE
The High Criminal Appeals Court upheld the death sentence given to a Bahraini man convicted in
- JUNE 25, 2014BahrainDEATH PENALTY
BAHRAIN: DEATH PENALTY FOR MURDERER
A Bahraini was sentenced to death for the vicious murder of a 20-year-old fugitive who allegedly posed as
FEBRUARY 19, 2014BahrainDEATH PENALTYBAHRAIN: PROTESTER SENTENCED TO DEATH
A Bahrain court sentenced a protester to death and jailed six others for life after they were convicted of