MP calls for return of traditional Mukhtar system to settle local disputes

TDT | Manama

Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

Reviving Bahrain’s traditional Mukhtar system (local community mediator) would ease the strain on the justice system by sorting out minor disputes informally, MP Jalal Kadhem has said.

Kadhem urged the government to reintroduce the Mukhtars legally under the Governorates Law, suggesting the system could reduce caseloads on the courts by settling disagreements amicably within neighbourhoods.

“Many cases reaching official channels today are quite minor and could be handled perfectly well by a Mukhtar,” he said. “It saves official resources and builds trust in community-driven solutions.”

The Mukhtar once played a strong role in Bahraini neighbourhoods, mediating in disputes, assisting locals with paperwork, and acting as a link to government bodies.

Problems

Kadhem said the return of Mukhtars would help communities identify problems early and deal with them quietly.

“Historically, the Mukhtar system succeeded in keeping communities together,” he said. “Restoring it would mend family divisions and restore traditional social bonds.”

He noted the Cabinet had previously backed the system in 2011 as a way to support local governors and maintain public order.

Social shift

According to Kadhem, current social shifts and rising family disputes mean that reviving it has become urgent.

“The Mukhtar helps maintain Bahraini customs and traditions,” he said. “They can defuse family disagreements and calm tensions without involving the courts.”

Kadhem also criticised reliance on social media to air family grievances, suggesting it usually inflames tensions rather than resolving them.

“Social media thrives on controversy, not calm,” he warned. “Problems are best handled discreetly by trusted community figures.”

Kadhem concluded by saying the reintroduction of Mukhtars across Bahrain’s villages and towns matched the leadership’s vision of community collaboration and would prevent minor issues from growing into serious crises.