An MP wants to chop the hands off thieves, under proposed tough new changes to Bahrain’s penal code.
Shaikh Ali Mattar wants Sharia law applied against people convicted of theft or burglary at private homes or any other premises.
This would mean chopping off a hand and also sending the culprit to prison, MPs heard during parliament’s first regular session yesterday following the spring break.
Thefts are rising and secular law is not strong enough to stop it, said Shaikh Mattar, who introduced the proposal.
Thieves should feel the agony of their victims and this would be a permanent lesson to them, he said.
Current law stipulates a minimum six-month jail sentence for theft, whether it be at private, public or commercial premises.
Theft in the existing law covers burglary, robbery, armed robbery, trickery and straight stealing of cash or property.
MPs agreed that Shaikh Mattar’s proposal, which came as they discussed a series of amendments to the penal code, should be discussed by the foreign affairs, defence and national security committee.
It will make recommendations to be discussed at a later parliament meeting.
Thieves should feel the agony of their victims and this would be a permanent lesson to them, he said.
Current law stipulates a minimum six-month jail sentence for theft, whether it be at private, public or commercial premises.
Theft in the existing law covers burglary, robbery, armed robbery, trickery and straight stealing of cash or property.
MPs agreed that Shaikh Mattar’s proposal, which came as they discussed a series of amendments to the penal code, should be discussed by the foreign affairs, defence and national security committee.
It will make recommendations to be discussed at a later parliament meeting.
Source: GDN • Mohammed Al-A’ali • published on February 15, 2006
Comments
MP wants to chop hands off thieves
If they prove beyond any doubt that the crime was done.
By al means I agree, but I would like to see the 3x rule apply.
Meaning 3x you stole something that is repeat offending (so no doubt there)
It is a great deterrent just see the little petty crime in Saudi Arabia.
Normally I would not take them as an example but in this case yes it showes there clearly that it works.
M.K
I thought the members of Parliament wanting to chop off the hand of a thief was a bit mediaeval. But here we are in the 21st century still interested in severing body parts.
I did feel that we might just take a finger off if the person stole food, two fingers for a watch, three fingers for a mobile, four for a laptop and, yes, the hand if the person stole your wife’s honour. Of course, it might be more appropriate if the man’s phallic dignity were removed.
It’ll take at least 20 years for the MPs to decide whether one or five fingers should be the punishment related to the crime at hand. Or the thumb might be considered if the malfactor were caught thumbing his nose at the uprightous men of the majlis. Could a digital matchboos be created? Or could we give a new meaning to finger sandwiches?
PHEW! At last some people came to their senses…
Legal slavery should be re-introduced, theives do not have a place in society along side normal decent people, they should be treated worse than dog’s.
However if someone steals food because they are hungry then it would suggest that the government needs to address the systems they currently have in place to feed the poor.
This is the 21st century and we still spend billions of dollars on weapons yet we do little to address world hunger.
Ask yourself this question, If your family and children were starving to death would you steal food to feed them?. the answer has to be yes.
Here’s a thought that just occured to me: if they did do the whole handchopping bit, that’d reduce the person’s ability to work. Does that mean he’d be able to collect unemployment benefits should this ‘tax’ be implemented?