Bahrain: Shura Council’s weekly session ended abruptly when a heated row erupted between members during discussions on Bahrain’s housing law. 

They disagreed over an article that would deprive families of government homes if the head of the household has his nationality revoked.

Under 57 new amendments to the 40-year-old housing law, families would also be removed from the Housing Ministry’s waiting list, while those living in temporary government apartments would be evicted within three months of a court ruling.

People who have been given plots of land would also be ordered to halt all construction work and return the deeds. 

Those who fail to pay instalments for a year, those who don’t take their homes within six months, and those who misuse given property would also have their homes taken away. 

Shura members were also divided yesterday on whether to give the Housing Ministry the right to implement those punishments or have verdicts issued through courts.

The council has been reviewing the amendments for the last eight years with 53 articles being approved, leaving the four controversial ones up for debate.

Discussions became so intense that council chairman Ali Saleh Al Saleh was excused from his post temporarily to join in the debate. 

“Mercy is above the law, mercy then mercy and for 40 years no one has been asked to leave their home or has been deprived of housing services even after waiting for at least a decade,” said Mr Al Saleh.

“Through those four articles, we will certainly bring injustice to the majority as a lot of people will lose their homes – we are not speaking about those accused of terrorism who only represent their own actions and not their families.

“We have to consider Bahrainis are law-abiding citizens, but there are difficulties that prevent them from doing things and unlike telecom firms that would end service for one late payment, the government has a different opinion, a humanitarian aspect, just take electricity as an example, if the government punishes people with cuts then three-quarters of this country would be living in darkness.”

He ordered members of Shura’s public utilities and environment affairs committee to meet Housing Minister Bassem Al Hamer to reach a conclusion on the articles.

“The current format of the four articles is unjust and unfair in my opinion, I don’t believe the ministry should take a decision on taking away housing services. It should be left up to courts and again I think the punishment is harsh and will create more damage within the community,” added Mr Al Saleh.

However, Mr Al Hamer told the council the ministry would only take necessary action after assessing each individual case. 

“The new revamped law compliments our new executive by-laws and we need it as soon as possible,” Mr Al Hamer later told the GDN.

“The four articles cause unnecessary complications and it should be left to the ministry to determine action after individual assessment.

“For example, the issue of major controversy is taking away homes from those who have lost citizenship. We will change the deeds under the concerned families’ names or the wife directly if she is Bahraini, except if there is a verdict to revoke the service altogether from the courts, which we can’t contest.”

This was the fourth time this year a Shura session was brought to end after hours of debate on the same article.

mohammed@gdn.com.bh