A NEW child law has been delayed after a row broke out yesterday about the age at which a child legally becomes an adult.
Shura Council members refused to vote on the law, stressing that it would not be practical to raise the legal age from 15 to 18 because it was not in line with Bahrain's legislation.
They submitted an urgent request to Council Chairman H.E. Ali Saleh Al Saleh to halt the voting process, despite warnings from Human Rights and Social Development Minister Dr Fatima Al Balooshi that Bahrain has signed treaties that bind it to increase the age of adulthood.
Councillor Fouad Al Haji described the age change as a "catastrophic" act that would have a negative effect on other laws.
"It now means, for example, those aged 17 who commit premeditated crimes would be treated as children, even though they are aware of the consequences of their actions," said Mr. Al Haji.
He said the new law would affect families as Bahrain's Sunni and Jaffari courts allow marriages at the age of 16.
"With this increase in age would that mean that the Sharia rights get revoked?
"The worst that would happen is that an entire family would be considered children if a couple is below 18 and have a child."
It would also have backlashes with Bahrain's military and police criteria as they accept secondary school students immediately after graduation.
"For example, will graduates who complete college get banned from joining the defence and security forces if they are born in October?" he asked.
Mr. Al Haji said Bahrain's laws were not suited to take on this international obligation.
"We can't carry this international obligation in Bahrain and the government should have never signed the agreements knowing that it cannot apply it in practice," he stressed.
"The whole country would be in a mess if this legislation goes ahead in its current format and it should be halted for revision and a major overhaul."
The Council referred the law back to its woman and child committee to draw up new solutions that would allow Bahrain to change the age limit, taking into consideration existing legislations.