A narrow dispute over the preamble of a bill regulating advertising in Bahrain will go to a new vote in Parliament, while the main clauses remain agreed. The draft law, amending Decree-Law No. 14 of 1973, requires prior approval for adve
TDT | Manama
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A narrow dispute over the preamble of a bill regulating advertising in Bahrain will go to a new vote in Parliament, while the main clauses remain agreed.
The draft law, amending Decree-Law No. 14 of 1973, requires prior approval for advertisement content, empowers municipal authorities to inspect and remove adverts that breach the law, and allows licence suspension or withdrawal. Offenders may face fines of 1,000–20,000 dinars, imprisonment, or both, with each violating advert attracting additional penalties. Courts can also order site restoration at the advertiser’s expense.
The disagreement concerns how the preamble references Decree-Law No. 47 of 2002, with the Shura Council updating wording to include electronic media, while the lower house cited only press, printing, and publishing. The Public Utilities and Environment Committee recommended backing the Shura Council version.
Other amendments clarify ministry responsibilities, allow task delegation, repeal an obsolete committee article, and confirm implementation by the Prime Minister and ministers.
