His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa received senior members of the royal family, the Chairman of the Shura Council, Speaker of the Representatives Council, and officials at Sakhir Palace. HM the King welcomed the attendees and praised the long-standing Bahraini tradition of such gatherings, which strengthen community ties.
In his speech, His Majesty the King commended the Ministry of Interior for the success and professional implementation of the alternative sentencing programme, which is the first of its kind in the region. His Majesty highlighted the commitment and efforts of the constitutional and legislative bodies to continually develop criminal justice measures and develop a unique model based on restorative justice and human rights principles.
HM the King thanked General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, the Interior Minister, and all officials involved in this initiative, which has advanced significantly and gained international recognition. His Majesty congratulated the team for their successful efforts in providing beneficiaries with new opportunities for social reintegration and family stability. His Majesty emphasised the importance of the goals of the programme, directing for further developing it and expanding the range of opportunities for benefiting from it.
General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Minister of Interior, delivered a speech, expressing gratitude to His Majesty the King for his support. He noted that the alternative sentencing law, was guided by HM the King’s directives, emphasising that youth do not belong in prison, but rather should be embraced by their families, community, and country.
In light of the royal directives, the minister said, the directorate has been assigned to formulate required programmes in liaison with partner entities. He highlighted the role of the Public Prosecution in coordinating between the police and the judiciary.
The Interior Minister thanked His Majesty the King for his recognition of the members of the General Directorate of Verdict Enforcement and Alternative Sentencing, emphasising their commitment and determination to serve their nation.
General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah highlighted the pivotal role of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, in the success of the programme since its launch in 2018. The programme has successfully reintegrated 7,458 beneficiaries, with a compliance rate of 97.5%, one of the highest globally.
On their part, the attendees expressed their sincere gratitude to HM the King for meeting with them and inquiring about their needs. They praised His Majesty the King’s commitment to upholding Bahrain’s longstanding social values and expressed their deep respect for his leadership.
