The story
Bahrain introduced death or life imprisonment for major drug offences on 12 July 1984, with an additional fine of 5,000–50,000 dinars. The new penalty covered unauthorised imports, exports and supply, as well as growing drugs for trafficking.[1][2]
Supply penalties had already increased
The original 1973 decree allowed up to ten years in prison, a fine up to 10,000 dinars, or both for supply offences. Its schedule expressly included cannabis and cannabis resin.[3]
Bahrain tightened those rules in November 1983. Supply then carried life imprisonment or a term of at least five years, plus a fine of 5,000–15,000 dinars. The amendment also required at least six months in prison for personal possession.[4][2]
The 1984 change brought execution into that penalty structure less than a year after the previous increase.[1][4][2]
Giving drugs away was included
The replacement supply rule covered possessing, buying, selling, delivering and receiving drugs, along with providing them for use or facilitating their use. Its wording included acts done for payment or free of charge.[1]
That breadth mattered to someone passing drugs to another person: the rule reached beyond a commercial sale. It also covered unauthorised import and export and the production or cultivation of drugs with intent to traffic.[1]
Emir Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa signed the amendment on 9 July. It took effect upon publication in the official gazette on 12 July.[1][2]
Personal possession retained a separate penalty
For holding or buying drugs for personal use, the law retained imprisonment of at least six months and a fine up to 10,000 dinars. The court could order hospital treatment for a person found to be addicted, with time in hospital deducted from the imposed sentence.[1]
The treatment rule therefore worked alongside the sentence. It concerned the person’s addiction and hospital care, while the separate supply rule exposed offenders to death or life imprisonment.[1]
The 2007 law carried capital penalties forward
Bahrain’s replacement narcotics law in 2007 retained death or life imprisonment for trafficking and required death in specified aggravated cases. It also set distinct rules for personal use, unpaid provision for use and treatment instead of punishment.[5]
The Bahrain profile reflects the capital-penalty regime’s origins in 1984 and the separate consequences for personal possession and growing.
Score by segment 0 to 10
- Possession · 25%0 → 0
- Personal cultivation · 25%0 → 0
- Punishment & enforcement · 20%1 → 0−1
- Sharing & gifting · 10%0 → 0
- Consumption · 10%0 → 0
- Legal access · 10%0 → 0
The bar shows the score after the change; the tick marks where it stood before. The scores after the change are Bahrain's current scores.
References
- Bahrain — capital drug penalties introduced in 1984Decree-Law 10/1984, replacement articles 23–24; signed 9 July; effective upon publication
- Bahrain official amendment catalogue for the 1973 narcotics decree1983 amendment: Gazette 1567, 24 November 1983; 1984 amendment: Gazette 1599, 12 July 1984
- United Nations — Bahrain narcotics decree of 1973E/NL.1985/2; original articles 2, 13, 23–24 and 32–33; Schedule 1; issued 27 February 1973archived
- Bahrain — amendment of drug penalties in 1983Decree-Law 15/1983, replacement articles 23–24; signed 20 November; effective upon publication
- Bahrain Legislation and Legal Opinion Commission — narcotics lawLaw 15/2007, articles 3, 26, 30–33, 38–44, 51, 54 and 60; Gazette 2804, 16 August 2007; effective next day
Checked. The date and the event were compared with a source that was read. The score before the change is an editorial estimate.