Bahrain’s Parliament will discuss a draft law that could see people jailed and fined for up to two years for spreading hate and undermining social cohesion. Bahrain Hate Speech Bill
Sources at the ministry who have seen the draft law said the seven-article document would be presented to lawmakers with Decree No. 67 of 2025, the decree that is awaiting presentation to the parliament.
It defines hate speech and coexistence and tolerance in the context of promoting national security and social cohesion.
According to the draft law, hate speech encompasses any expression likely to provoke sectarian tensions, incitement to violence or discrimination against individuals or groups.
Coexistence is defined as communities living peacefully while respecting cultural and human diversity, while tolerance is described as upholding equal rights and freedoms — including the right to express opinions without facing discrimination or hostility.
Article 4 of the legislation would penalize anyone who engages in hate speech or undermines coexistence and tolerance through any means covered by the law, with attempted offences carrying identical penalties to completed ones. Where such an offence leads to a separate crime, the law treats that as an aggravating factor increasing culpability.
Corporate accountability features prominently in the draft: companies and other legal entities could face fines between BD5,000 and BD20,000 if violations are committed in their name or for their benefit. Liability could extend to board members, managers or authorized officers found responsible through negligence, concealment or failure to act — while individual criminal responsibility remains separately enforceable.
The bill’s scope extends across virtually every communication medium, including newspapers, broadcast media, telecommunications, websites and social media platforms, as well as speech, writing, imagery, gestures and performance.
Notably, Article 6 explicitly states that freedom of expression cannot be used as justification for speech that breaches the law’s hate-speech provisions.
The King Hamad Global Centre for Coexistence and Tolerance would be tasked with coordinating implementation alongside government bodies and civil society groups, including proposing educational programs and raising public awareness about the risks of extremism and intolerance. Bahrain Economy
