The establishment of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) had lofty goals, the most important of which was to preserve the safety and security of its member countries from any dangers threatening the Arabian Peninsula. We, in the Arabian Gulf, share a common origin. Most of the citizens of the GCC countries descend from the tribes of the Arabian Peninsula, whose ancestors did not leave this land despite the hardships they endured. They held on to their origins and their land until God bestowed wealth upon these generations, allowing us to enjoy the prosperity we have today.
However, today we need to adhere to the lofty goals for which the GCC was established. Similar to the European Union (EU), which was founded to protect member states from the dangers and wars that arose in Europe, the GCC was created to ensure the safety of its members. The EU pays considerable attention to its member states, and we in the Arabian Gulf must aim for more cohesion among the GCC countries than what we witness today. A step towards this cohesion could be the harmonization of laws.
Currently, each member state of the GCC has a different penal code, undermining the Arabian Peninsula’s unity and convergence. Although geographically close, the member states are far apart in terms of legal similarities. To rely on a single security system for the GCC countries, we must also unify our legal systems. Discrepancies in the laws result in acts being criminalized in one country but permitted in another. Similarly, penalties for the same act can vary greatly between countries. This inconsistency leads some citizens to migrate between GCC countries to avoid stricter laws, which needs to be addressed.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s penal code may serve as a model for the GCC, as it guarantees freedoms without violating the principles of Islamic law. This has resulted in lower crime rates in Saudi Arabia due to its strict laws and punishments derived from Islamic law. Saudi Arabia is the only country that fully applies sharia punishments and has faced tremendous pressure without support from other member states to maintain the application of Islamic law for crimes that God Almighty has forbidden.
To bestow blessings upon all GCC countries, the commands of God Almighty must be implemented. It would be beneficial for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia not to be the only country applying God’s law. A meeting between the ministries of justice of the GCC countries is needed to coordinate and implement a unified penal code across all member states.
We hope that this initiative will be led by the State of Kuwait, especially as Kuwait is in the process of amending its penal legislation to be applicable to all Muslims. Kuwait could take the initiative in convening a meeting of the council members to unify the penal code for greater cohesion among member states.
We aspire to be as cohesive as the member states of the European Union, which was established to protect European history and people with similar laws. The EU’s decisions are binding on its member states, ensuring the future, comfort and security of European citizens. This unity was achieved after the Second World War, which caused immense loss of life in Europe. Similarly, unified laws in the GCC would enhance the security and cohesion of our member states.
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