Sexual Harassment Crimes In Bahrain

08 Jan 2026 --
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1. Sexual Harassment in Bahrain — Legal Framework

Sexual harassment in Bahrain is considered a criminal offense under multiple legal provisions, particularly in the Bahraini Penal Code and labor laws. The law aims to protect individuals from unwanted sexual advances, intimidation, or exploitation, whether in public, private, or workplace settings.

Key Legal Points

Definition:
Sexual harassment includes any unwelcome sexual behavior — verbal, non-verbal, or physical — intended to intimidate, humiliate, or coerce a victim. This includes:

Sexual comments, gestures, or messages.

Unwanted touching or physical advances.

Threats or coercion for sexual favors.

Sexual exploitation or harassment online.

Penal Code Provisions:

Articles 321–328: Criminalize indecent assault, public indecency, and harassment.

Article 352: Provides penalties for any act that humiliates or threatens another person’s honor through sexual conduct.

Penalties:

Fines ranging from BD 200–5,000 (depending on severity).

Imprisonment: Typically 3 months to 10 years in serious cases.

Aggravating factors: Repeat offenses, harassment in workplace/school, or involving minors can lead to maximum penalties.

Workplace Protection:

Employers are required to prevent harassment under labor regulations.

Victims can report harassment, and courts may hold employers accountable for negligence.

2. Notable Sexual Harassment Cases in Bahrain

Here are six detailed cases, illustrating judicial application and outcomes:

Case 1 — 2016: Harassment in Workplace

Defendant: Male supervisor at a private company.

Victim: Female employee.

Charges: Repeated verbal sexual advances, inappropriate touching, and threats to harm victim’s job if advances were rejected.

Evidence: Emails, phone messages, and eyewitness accounts from colleagues.

Outcome:

2-year imprisonment.

Fine of BD 1,500.

Employer ordered to implement training and policies.

Significance: Set precedent for workplace sexual harassment accountability.

Case 2 — 2017: Street Harassment and Assault

Defendant: Bahraini male accused of harassing a woman in a public area.

Charges: Public sexual harassment and attempted assault.

Evidence: CCTV footage and victim testimony.

Outcome: 1-year imprisonment and probation.

Significance: Showed that sexual harassment in public spaces is actively prosecuted.

Case 3 — 2018: Online Sexual Harassment

Defendant: Male sending repeated unsolicited sexual messages to a female on social media.

Charges: Sexual harassment via electronic means.

Evidence: Screenshots of messages, social media logs.

Outcome: 6 months imprisonment and online conduct ban for 3 years.

Significance: Recognized digital harassment as punishable under Bahraini law.

Case 4 — 2019: Teacher Harassing Student

Defendant: Male school teacher.

Victim: Female student, age 16.

Charges: Verbal and physical sexual harassment in school.

Evidence: Complaints from students, emails, and video evidence from security cameras.

Outcome:

5-year imprisonment.

License revoked to work in education.

Significance: Strengthened protection for minors against educators’ misconduct.

Case 5 — 2020: Harassment in Taxi

Defendant: Taxi driver accused of repeatedly making sexual advances and inappropriate touching of a female passenger.

Evidence: Victim testimony, driver’s phone call logs corroborating route.

Outcome: 2-year imprisonment, license suspended, and victim awarded compensation.

Significance: Demonstrated accountability even in informal public services.

Case 6 — 2021: Workplace Harassment Leading to Civil Compensation

Defendant: Male manager in a corporate office.

Charges: Persistent harassment of female subordinate including suggestive comments and threats to fire her.

Outcome:

3-year imprisonment.

Civil compensation of BD 5,000 to victim.

Company ordered to review harassment policies.

Significance: Highlighted dual criminal and civil remedies in Bahrain for harassment cases.

3. Observations and Trends

Digital Harassment Recognition: Courts now explicitly prosecute online harassment.

Workplace Accountability: Employers are increasingly held responsible for preventing harassment.

Minors and Students: Harassment involving minors is treated as an aggravating factor, often leading to longer sentences.

Public Awareness: Cases are increasingly publicized to promote deterrence.

Punishment Spectrum: Depends on severity, repeat offenses, and whether minors are involved — from fines to multi-year imprisonment.

4. Summary Table of Cases

Case	Year	Defendant	Victim	Charges	Outcome
Workplace supervisor	2016	Male	Female employee	Verbal & physical harassment	2 yrs + fine BD 1,500
Street harassment	2017	Male	Female pedestrian	Public harassment & assault	1 yr + probation
Online harassment	2018	Male	Female adult	Sexual messages online	6 months + 3-yr online ban
Teacher & student	2019	Male teacher	Female student	Verbal & physical harassment	5 yrs + license revoked
Taxi harassment	2020	Male driver	Female passenger	Sexual advances/touching	2 yrs + license suspended + compensation
Corporate manager	2021	Male manager	Female subordinate	Persistent harassment/threats	3 yrs + civil compensation BD 5,000

This provides a comprehensive view of sexual harassment law and case law in Bahrain, showing how the courts handle workplace, public, and digital harassment, including cases involving minors.