The Bahraini Constitution, amended in 2002, ensures the right

to practice religious rituals according to the customs followed

in Bahrain, for article 22 stipulates: “Freedom of conscience is

absolute. The State shall guarantee the inviolability of places of

worship and the freedom to perform religious rites and to hold

religious processions and meetings in accordance with the

customs observed in the country.”

Whereas the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,

which Bahrain joined, states in article 18 that it ensures a human’s

right to “Freedom of thought, conscience, and religion”, including

“The freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice,

to manifest his religion or belief in worship, observance, practice

and teaching, either individually or with others and in public or

private.”

On the other hand, the Bahraini Penal Law incriminates

deliberately disturbing the performance of religious rituals, for

article 311 stipulates:“A punishment of imprisonment for a

period not more than one year or a fine not more than 200

Bahraini Dinars shall be inflicted upon: 1. Any person who

deliberately causes disturbance to the holding of religious rituals

by a recognized sect or to a religious ceremony or meeting or

obstructing such events or preventing the holding thereof with the

use of force or threat. 2. Any person who destroys, damages, or

desecrates a place of worship for performing religious rituals of

a recognized sect or a symbol or other things having a religious

inviolability.”