Translation of an official Announcement issued
by the State Council, Bahrain
In view of the fact that the circumstances which prevailed in
the past required that certain individuals of foreign nationality
should be exempted from Bahraini jurisdiction; and in parallel
with the progress which the State of Bahrain has made in all fields;
and in view of the changed circumstances, and in accordance with
the Agreement which has been reached between the Government of His
Highness, the Ruler of Bahrain, and the Government of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland concerning the ter mination of HMG's jurisdiction in Bahrain with effect from
31 July 1971; and taking into account the British proposals deal ing with the excepting of certain individuals and organisations
from Bahraini jurisdiction temporarily until arrangements have been
completed for the final retrocession of this jurisdiction with
reference to all people residing in the territory of Bahrain.
The Government of Bahrain is pleased to announce that the transfer
of jurisdiction to it in the way mentioned above will not affect
the validity of judgments which have been issued before this date
by Courts which have had judicial authority in Bahrain, and these
judgments will be effective and will be recognised as having the
same validity as the judgments and decrees issued by the Bahrain
Law Courts.
Furthermore, the judgments issued in criminal matters by Courts
which have had judicial authority in Bahrain shall be enforced
on the same scale as punishments restricting freedom which have
been awarded in accordance with these judgments.
This is without prejudice to the right of His Highness, the Ruler
of the country, to issue a general amnesty or pardon from a pun ishment in relation to any accused who has been convicted in
accordance with a judgment issued by these Courts.
SIGNED Khalifah Bin Sulman Al Khalifah
Head of the State Council
12 July 1971
