diff --git a/languages/python/custom/src/BareExcept/BareExcept.qhelp b/languages/python/custom/src/BareExcept/BareExcept.qhelp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f2fa7e0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/languages/python/custom/src/BareExcept/BareExcept.qhelp
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+<!DOCTYPE qhelp PUBLIC
+  "-//Semmle//qhelp//EN"
+  "qhelp.dtd">
+<qhelp>
+
+<overview>
+<p>
+Using a bare <code>except:</code> clause without specifying an exception type is considered bad practice 
+because it catches all exceptions, including system exits (<code>SystemExit</code>), keyboard interrupts 
+(<code>KeyboardInterrupt</code>), and other critical exceptions that should typically propagate.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+This makes debugging difficult, can hide real bugs, and may lead to incorrect program behavior by 
+catching exceptions that were not intended to be handled.
+</p>
+</overview>
+
+<recommendation>
+<p>
+Always specify the exception types you expect to handle. If you need to catch multiple exception types, 
+use a tuple of exception types. If you must catch most exceptions, catch <code>Exception</code> explicitly, 
+which still allows system exits and keyboard interrupts to propagate.
+</p>
+</recommendation>
+
+<example>
+<p>
+The following example shows a bare <code>except:</code> clause that catches all exceptions:
+</p>
+
+<sample src="BareExceptBad.py" />
+
+<p>
+The following example shows the corrected code that catches only the specific exception type expected:
+</p>
+
+<sample src="BareExceptGood.py" />
+</example>
+
+<references>
+<li>Python Documentation: <a href="https://docs.python.org/3/tutorial/errors.html#handling-exceptions">Handling Exceptions</a></li>
+<li>PEP 8: <a href="https://peps.python.org/pep-0008/#programming-recommendations">Programming Recommendations</a></li>
+<li>CWE-396: <a href="https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/396.html">Declaration of Catch for Generic Exception</a></li>
+</references>
+
+</qhelp>
diff --git a/languages/python/custom/src/BareExcept/BareExcept.ql b/languages/python/custom/src/BareExcept/BareExcept.ql
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4e2f176
--- /dev/null
+++ b/languages/python/custom/src/BareExcept/BareExcept.ql
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+/**
+ * @name Bare except clause
+ * @description Using a bare 'except:' clause catches all exceptions including system exits and keyboard interrupts, making debugging difficult and potentially hiding real bugs.
+ * @kind problem
+ * @problem.severity warning
+ * @precision high
+ * @id py/bare-except
+ * @tags maintainability
+ *       code-quality
+ *       external/cwe/cwe-396
+ */
+
+import python
+
+from ExceptStmt except
+where not exists(except.getType())
+select except,
+  "Avoid using bare 'except:' clauses. Specify exception types to catch only expected errors."
diff --git a/languages/python/custom/src/BareExcept/BareExceptBad.py b/languages/python/custom/src/BareExcept/BareExceptBad.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..129a4ad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/languages/python/custom/src/BareExcept/BareExceptBad.py
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+def parse_int(s: str) -> int:
+    try:
+        return int(s)
+    except:  # BAD: Catches all exceptions including system exits
+        return 0
+
+def read_config(filename):
+    try:
+        with open(filename) as f:
+            return f.read()
+    except:  # BAD: Catches all exceptions, even KeyboardInterrupt
+        return None
diff --git a/languages/python/custom/src/BareExcept/BareExceptGood.py b/languages/python/custom/src/BareExcept/BareExceptGood.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3f48313
--- /dev/null
+++ b/languages/python/custom/src/BareExcept/BareExceptGood.py
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+def parse_int(s: str) -> int:
+    try:
+        return int(s)
+    except ValueError:  # GOOD: Catches only ValueError
+        return 0
+
+def read_config(filename):
+    try:
+        with open(filename) as f:
+            return f.read()
+    except (IOError, OSError) as e:  # GOOD: Catches specific file-related exceptions
+        print(f"Error reading file: {e}")
+        return None
+
+# If you really need to catch most exceptions, use Exception explicitly
+def process_with_logging(data):
+    try:
+        return process(data)
+    except Exception as e:  # ACCEPTABLE: Explicitly catches Exception, not bare except
+        log_error(e)
+        return None
diff --git a/languages/python/custom/test/BareExcept/BareExcept.expected b/languages/python/custom/test/BareExcept/BareExcept.expected
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e3298ec
--- /dev/null
+++ b/languages/python/custom/test/BareExcept/BareExcept.expected
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+| test.py:10:5:10:11 | ExceptStmt | Avoid using bare 'except:' clauses. Specify exception types to catch only expected errors. |
+| test.py:26:5:26:11 | ExceptStmt | Avoid using bare 'except:' clauses. Specify exception types to catch only expected errors. |
+| test.py:43:5:43:11 | ExceptStmt | Avoid using bare 'except:' clauses. Specify exception types to catch only expected errors. |
+| test.py:72:9:72:15 | ExceptStmt | Avoid using bare 'except:' clauses. Specify exception types to catch only expected errors. |
+| test.py:95:9:95:15 | ExceptStmt | Avoid using bare 'except:' clauses. Specify exception types to catch only expected errors. |
+| test.py:115:5:115:11 | ExceptStmt | Avoid using bare 'except:' clauses. Specify exception types to catch only expected errors. |
diff --git a/languages/python/custom/test/BareExcept/BareExcept.qlref b/languages/python/custom/test/BareExcept/BareExcept.qlref
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9046482
--- /dev/null
+++ b/languages/python/custom/test/BareExcept/BareExcept.qlref
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+BareExcept/BareExcept.ql
diff --git a/languages/python/custom/test/BareExcept/test.py b/languages/python/custom/test/BareExcept/test.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..54f9e8d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/languages/python/custom/test/BareExcept/test.py
@@ -0,0 +1,151 @@
+"""
+Test cases for BareExcept query.
+This file contains both compliant and non-compliant examples.
+"""
+
+# NON_COMPLIANT: Bare except clause
+def parse_int_bare_except(s: str) -> int:
+    try:
+        return int(s)
+    except:  # DETECT: Bare except clause
+        return 0
+
+
+# COMPLIANT: Specific exception type
+def parse_int_specific(s: str) -> int:
+    try:
+        return int(s)
+    except ValueError:
+        return 0
+
+
+# NON_COMPLIANT: Bare except with pass
+def process_data_bare_except():
+    try:
+        risky_operation()
+    except:  # DETECT: Bare except clause
+        pass
+
+
+# COMPLIANT: Specific exception with pass
+def process_data_specific():
+    try:
+        risky_operation()
+    except IOError:
+        pass
+
+
+# NON_COMPLIANT: Bare except that logs
+def read_file_bare_except(filename):
+    try:
+        with open(filename) as f:
+            return f.read()
+    except:  # DETECT: Bare except clause
+        print("Error reading file")
+        return None
+
+
+# COMPLIANT: Multiple specific exceptions
+def read_file_specific(filename):
+    try:
+        with open(filename) as f:
+            return f.read()
+    except (IOError, OSError) as e:
+        print(f"Error reading file: {e}")
+        return None
+
+
+# COMPLIANT: Catch Exception (not bare)
+def process_with_exception_base(data):
+    try:
+        return process(data)
+    except Exception as e:
+        log_error(e)
+        return None
+
+
+# NON_COMPLIANT: Nested bare except
+def nested_bare_except():
+    try:
+        try:
+            dangerous_operation()
+        except:  # DETECT: Bare except clause
+            cleanup()
+    except ValueError:
+        pass
+
+
+# COMPLIANT: Nested with specific exceptions
+def nested_specific():
+    try:
+        try:
+            dangerous_operation()
+        except KeyError:
+            cleanup()
+    except ValueError:
+        pass
+
+
+# NON_COMPLIANT: Bare except in loop
+def process_items_bare_except(items):
+    results = []
+    for item in items:
+        try:
+            results.append(process(item))
+        except:  # DETECT: Bare except clause
+            continue
+    return results
+
+
+# COMPLIANT: Specific exception in loop
+def process_items_specific(items):
+    results = []
+    for item in items:
+        try:
+            results.append(process(item))
+        except (ValueError, TypeError):
+            continue
+    return results
+
+
+# NON_COMPLIANT: Bare except with finally
+def operation_with_finally_bare():
+    try:
+        perform_operation()
+    except:  # DETECT: Bare except clause
+        handle_error()
+    finally:
+        cleanup()
+
+
+# COMPLIANT: Specific exception with finally
+def operation_with_finally_specific():
+    try:
+        perform_operation()
+    except RuntimeError:
+        handle_error()
+    finally:
+        cleanup()
+
+
+# Helper functions (not real implementations, just for test structure)
+def risky_operation():
+    pass
+
+def process(data):
+    return data
+
+def log_error(e):
+    pass
+
+def dangerous_operation():
+    pass
+
+def cleanup():
+    pass
+
+def perform_operation():
+    pass
+
+def handle_error():
+    pass