UPON first glance at the article ‘MPs agree new law on domestic violence’ (GDN, April 8), I was eager to see how our new parliament would finally begin to tackle a very important and often sensitive issue faced by many women and children in Bahrain in the past.

To my surprise and complete horror I couldn’t believe what I was reading. How so many members of our parliament, elected to represent “our views” in society, could have the audacity to stand up and argue against articles that impose fines and prison sentences for “sexual abuse within marriage” (18) and for “acts that could lead to sexual abuse or harm, such as the transfer of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) to partners” is just beyond me! These are extremely important issues that need to be addressed – what a disgrace to our society!

How do you expect the international world to take the people of Bahrain seriously when so many members of our parliament continue to lobby for laws better suited to the dark ages?

Sexual abuse in marriage is prominent in our society and we need to encourage people, especially women, to speak out against these terrible acts – not encourage such disgusting and abusive behaviour. In response to MP Shaikh Abdulmajeed Al Asfoor’s argument that some people had “more extreme sexual preferences than others” well no doubt those people would not be enacting the provisions of this law! The new Domestic Violence Protection Law is to protect and help those people who believe they are being ‘abused’ – surely this is quite simple to understand. The claims made by Shaikh Majid Al Majid are also just laughable in this day and age!

I for one, fully support Social Development Minister Faeqa Al Saleh’s fight to reinstate the provisions of these articles and to protect those in harm’s way. I sincerely hope that many other Bahrainis, both men and women, will do the same.

Nadia Al Awadhi