A human rights society has been registered in Bahrain in the context of the political reforms underway in the Gulf emirate, according to Bahrain Tribune on Sunday.
The paper said that Bahrain Human Rights Society was officially registered after it obtained the green light from the government.
Bahraini Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Abdulnabi Al Sho’ala, was quoted by the paper as adding that his ministry had also informed the founders of the Islamic Awareness Society about the decision to allow them to resume their activities.
Al Sho’ala said that the ministry had also approved the establishment of a consumer society, explaining that the measures were “in line with the directives of the leadership to consolidate the role of societies as stipulated in the National Charter.”
“As of now, we have 222 societies and associations registered with the ministry,” Al Sho’ala said.
A host of societies and clubs are registered with other ministries, said the daily.
The Ministry of Cabinet Affairs and Information has registered a multitude of cultural and artistic societies, including the Bahrain Journalists Association, while sports clubs are registered with the General Organization for Youth and Sports.
Al Sho’ala said that Bahrain had the largest per capita number of clubs and societies in the world.
“Many international communities have their associations or clubs in Bahrain, which signifies the high level of openness in the country,” the minister said.
Al Sho’ala said that he had never turned down any application to set up a women’s society, explaining that the latest application for the formation of the Bahrain Businesswomen’s Society was granted promptly.
The Bahrainis voted massively last month in favor of the charter and constitutional reforms proposed by the emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Issa Al Khalifa, which will bring alive parliamentary life after 26 years since the last parliament was dissolved – Albawaba.com
