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Bahrain Internal Security Problems
In the past, internal dynastic rivalries within
individual
amirates were often sources of tension and even bloodshed.
In
part, this resulted from the absence of clearly
established rules
of succession. More recently, however, heirs apparent have
usually been designated, most often the eldest son of the
amir.
Intra-UAE rivalries no longer take a violent form, but the
continued existence of independent military forces and
competition in acquiring arms bring with them a costly
proliferation of weapons that complicates training and
logistics.
The threat of subversion from resident Iranians and
native
Shia seems to be less acute in the UAE than in other gulf
states
in spite of the large Shia population in Dubayy. Dubayy
and
Sharjah have traditionally maintained good relations with
Iran
and enjoyed profits from maritime trade, particularly the
transshipment of items officially banned in Iran to
conserve
foreign exchange. The UAE is not a target of Iranian
terrorist
attacks.
The provisional constitution authorizes federal police
and
security guard forces, which are subordinate to the
Ministry of
Interior. The strength of the police force has not been
reported
but is estimated as relatively large and vigilant in
exercising
control over political activities. Individual shaykhs had
their
own police forces before independence and maintained those
forces
after unification. Both the federal government and the
amirate of
Dubayy retain independent internal security organizations.
The
police forces of the other amirates are also involved in
antinarcotic and antiterrorist activities.
Criminal cases are tried either by sharia courts
administered
by each amirate or by civil courts of the federal system
that
exist in several amirates. Rights of due process are
accorded
under both systems. Defendants are entitled to legal
counsel. No
formal public defender system exists, but the judge has
responsibility for looking after the interests of persons
not
represented by counsel. Under the Criminal Procedures Code
adopted in 1992, the accused has the right to defense
counsel,
provided by the government, if necessary, in cases
involving
possible sentence of death or life imprisonment. There are
no
jury trials, but trials are open except in cases involving
national security or morals offenses. No separate security
courts
exist, and military courts try only military personnel in
a
system based on Western military judicial principles.
According
to Department of State human rights reports, the criminal
court
system is generally regarded as fair. Despite the lack of
a
formal bail system, there are instances of release on
deposit of
money or passport.
Detentions must be reported to the attorney general
within
forty-eight hours; the attorney general must decide within
twenty-four hours whether to charge, release, or allow
further
limited detention. Most persons receive expeditious
trials,
although Iraqis and Palestinians had been held
incommunicado in
detention for one or two months in 1991. Others were being
held
in jail because they were unwilling or unable to return to
their
countries of origin.
Data as of January 1993
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