Interior Minister leads Bahrain delegation at GCC Interior Ministers’ meeting in Kuwait
The alternative sentencing and open prisons project originated from HM the King’s wise and noble vision.
The Government, led by HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, applied the alternative sentencing project with an institutional spirit and achieved tangible positive results.
HE Interior Minister presents the GCC Ministers with a guide for implementing alternative sentences and open prisons.
HE Interior Minister: If crime is organised, it is only right that we be better organised to confront it.
HE Interior Minister: If crime crosses borders, there should be no borders to our cooperation in combating it.
HE Interior Minister calls for combating drugs at their source to reduce their threat to our countries.
Kuwait, Nov. 12 (BNA): His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al Khaled Al Hamad Al Sabah, the Crown Prince of the State of Kuwait, received the Interior Ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries on the occasion of the 42nd GCC Interior Ministers’ Meeting, held in Kuwait.
HH Sheikh Sabah Al Khaled welcomed the ministers and underlined the importance of such meetings in strengthening GCC security cooperation, wishing them success in achieving the aspirations of the GCC peoples for greater unity and integration. The ministers commended HH the Crown Prince of Kuwait for his support of joint Gulf cooperation to enhance solidarity and integration among GCC countries.
General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Minister of Interior, headed the Kingdom of Bahrain’s delegation to the meeting.
Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah delivered Bahrain’s speech, conveying the Kingdom’s appreciation to Kuwait for hosting the meeting and for the excellent organisation, expressing thanks to Sheikh Fahad Al Yusuf Al Sabah, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior of Kuwait, Chairman of the meeting, and to the GCC Secretariat General for their efforts in preparation and follow-up.
The Interior Minister emphasised that the wise reformist approach of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, embodies the values of justice, fairness, and the preservation of human dignity. He noted that the Alternative Sentencing and Measures Law launched by His Majesty the King marked a qualitative shift in criminal justice from deterrence to reform and reintegration.
He explained that the government, led by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, ensured that the project was implemented institutionally, contributing to enhanced community security, lower recidivism rates, and greater opportunities for beneficiaries to reintegrate positively into national development.
The Interior Minister presented the guide for implementing alternative sentencing and open prisons, inspired by Bahrain’s experience, expressing hope that it would help advance rehabilitative criminal justice across the GCC.
Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah highlighted that modern technological developments and artificial intelligence-related crimes require more organised Gulf security cooperation, calling for the expansion of the GCC Anti-Drugs Strategy to include addressing sources and reducing regional risks.
He concluded by expressing Bahrain’s aspiration to host the next GCC Interior Ministers’ Meeting, underlined the Kingdom’s commitment to enhancing joint Gulf security cooperation.
The meeting discussed joint security topics, including the GCC Anti-Drugs Strategy, the Security Strategy to Combat Money Laundering, development of traffic systems, electronic exchange of fingerprints and data of deportees, and the establishment of a unified Gulf rescue team.
The ministers decided to refer the issue of a unified GCC tourist visa to the Foreign Ministers for submission to the GCC leaders. They also approved the next joint tactical exercise for security agencies and the Gulf Security Conference under the GCC Secretariat.
Bahrain was honoured during the meeting for the "Maan" Centre for Research and Training team winning first place in the Prince Nayef Award for Arab Security (First Class) for their study entitled "The Negative Effects of Social Media on the Gulf Family and Its Security Implications".
The Interior Minister was accompanied by the Ambassador of Bahrain to Kuwait, the Undersecretary of the Interior Ministry, and a number of Interior Ministry officials.
