DEATH PENALTY STAYS FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING IN BAHRAIN

January 14, 2007: Bahrain is to keep the death penalty for drug traffickers. The Shura Council voted overwhelmingly in favour of keeping the death penalty on the statute books for drug trafficking, though it has never been imposed.
This was despite an impassioned plea by Faisal Fulad, the Bahrain Human Rights Watch Society regional and international director, who said that the death penalty was against international human rights norms. The motion to amend the clause was introduced by Dr Shaikh Khalid. He said that Islam, which is a main source for Bahrain's legislation, only prescribes the death penalty for people who kill.
He also argued that having people in prison being punished for drug trafficking is a stronger deterrent than killing them. (Sources: Gulf Daily News, 15/1/2007)