The offences for which capital punishment either can or must

The offences for which capital punishment either can or must be applied are: aggravated murder, murder, other offenses resulting in death, terrorism, rape of child, arson of a public or Government building, even if it does not result in death; drug trafficking; treason, espionage, other military offenses.
In March 1999 Sheikh Hamad Bin `Issa Al Khalifa succeeded his late father Sheikh Salman bin ‘Issa al-Khalifa as emir. The change of government brought about some democratic reforms. Bahrain became a constitutional monarchy in 2002 and Sheik Hamad’s title was changed to king.
On October 31, 2002, Bahrain held parliamentary elections for the first time in nearly 30 years, to elect the 40-member Council of Deputies. Women participated for the first time, voting and standing as candidates, though failing to win a seat.
The first execution in 20 years took place on 29 March 1996. The last execution was in July 2010, when a Bangladeshi national, Jassim Abdulmanan, was executed for murdering another Bangladeshi man.
Execution is carried out by firing squad. The inmate is strapped to a chair with their eyes covered and a sponge placed on their chest so stop the blood from spreading.
In 2012, for the second year running, no executions were carried out in Bahrain, and only one death sentence was imposed.
On 21 May 2012, Bahrain was reviewed under the Universal Periodic Review of the UN Human Rights Council. The Government rejected recommendations to establish an official moratorium on executions with a view to abolishing the death penalty, stating that such measures would be inconsistent with Bahrain’s Constitution.
On 20 December 2012, Bahrain changed its previous position and voted against the Resolution on a Moratorium on the Use of the Death Penalty at the UN General Assembly. In 2010 and 2008 Bahrain had abstained from such UN resolutions.