The Kingdom of Bahrain is a proud and active partner of the Global Coalition Against Daesh. In September 2014, the Kingdom became one of the very first 12 members of the Coalition when it was officially launched.
The Bahraini government prioritises efforts to combat global terrorism, extremism, and terrorist financing in the pursuit of preserving global human rights and fundamental freedoms through continuous coordination among security organisations working to combat extremism and terrorism.
The Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Interior both play important roles in Bahrain’s overall counter-terrorism efforts. There are a number of departments within the Ministry of Interior that focus on countering terrorism in all of its forms, including the Department for Combating Cybercrime, The Joint Centre for Combating Terrorism, and The National Centre for Financial Investigation, as well as other measures taken to address the conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism. In addition, the Minister of Interior has launched a committee for countering Extremism and Terrorism, it’s financing, and Money Laundering, and works to propose legislation and strategies in countering terrorism, including the classification of groups and individuals as terrorists.
Through diplomatic channels, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs collaborates with international partners to curb terrorism financing. The ministry’s efforts focus on identifying and obstructing the sources of terrorism financing, freezing terrorists’ and their supporters’ assets, preventing their access to the global financial system, and safeguarding legitimate charitable organizations from being exploited by terrorists.
The Kingdom emphasises its commitment to combating terrorist financing and collaborates with regional and international partners. In November 2014, the Kingdom hosted the inaugural meeting of the Global Coalition Against Daesh’s Counter ISIS Finance Group (CIFG). Bahrain is also a founding member of the regional MENA-FATF, and houses the group’s secretariat. Furthermore, the Kingdom serves on the Executive Council of the Terrorist Financing Targeting Centre (TFTC) and is a member of the Egmont Group.
The Kingdom of Bahrain is also a committed participant in the Coalition’s Small Group, in addition to a number of working groups including: the communications working group, Counter ISIS Finance Group, Africa Focus Group, Foreign Terrorist Fighters Working Group.
“While politics may drag people into ideology, it is the ideology itself that must be combated. It must be named, it must be shamed and it must be contained, and eventually it must be defeated. We must use all resources to hold accountable those who place themselves above other ordinary human beings who claim they have divine right to rule. These are people who try to govern us, here on earth, and in the hereafter. We are not only fighting terrorists, we are fighting theocrats.”
His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister
10th Manama Dialogue Opening (2014).
