A one-night stand in Qatar could land you in jail for up to 7 years. “Qatar`s commitment to human rights must be more than just international applause,” Page concluded. “The authorities must effectively implement the treaties they adhere to and reform their laws to better protect freedom of expression and other fundamental rights.” According to the non-profit Human Dignity Trust, offenders can spend up to seven years behind bars if they violate this law. In addition, it is important to note that homosexuality is also prohibited in Qatar under Article 285 of the 2004 Penal Code and could also result in a prison sentence of a similar length. There are also strict privacy laws in the country and posting online material (including videos and photos) that appears defamatory, offended or culturally insensitive may be considered a criminal offense under Qatari law. There has been a lot of controversy surrounding the upcoming FIFA World Cup, which is due to be held in Qatar later this year amid the country`s strict laws and customs. Things could get even more tense as fans now learn that they could spend up to seven years in jail if they have one-night stands while in the country. As the 2022 FIFA World Cup approaches, fans wishing to travel to Qatar to attend the tournament will need to pay close attention to the country`s laws and customs. One of these laws is that sex outside marriage is totally prohibited. Rude gestures or swearing are considered obscene acts in Qatar and violators can be imprisoned and/or deported. Qatari law can be very different from ours, both in terms of what is considered a criminal offence and in terms of the penalties imposed. You should be aware of this and familiarize yourself with local laws and customs.

In 2020, Qatar assured potential visitors that it would welcome LGBT visitors and fans could raise the rainbow flag at football World Cup matches. Officials` suggestions that Qatar would make an exception to its abusive laws and practices for foreigners are implicit reminders that Qatari authorities do not believe its LGBT citizens and residents deserve basic rights, Human Rights Watch said. Doha`s main prison is the Central Prison. If you are remanded in custody while the prosecutor`s office is investigating your case, or if you are sentenced to imprisonment, it is very likely that you will serve this sentence in the central prison. This publication is available at www.gov.uk/government/publications/qatar-prisoner-pack/qatar-prisoner-pack Civil courts are competent to hear all disputes that are not brought before Sharia courts or criminal courts, especially in commercial and labour matters. In the event of a labour dispute, the Industrial Relations Department of the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs will first examine the case and try to help both parties reach a compromise. If no compromise is reached, the case is referred to the courts. The Department of Preventive Security is part of the Ministry of the Interior of Qatar. Upon arrival at the central prison, you will undergo an intimate body search and your head may be shaved (men only). All your belongings will be taken away and kept safe. However, if you wish, you can ask someone to pick them up on your behalf at a later date.

You can get a uniform. All other clothing such as flip-flops, t-shirts, etc. may need to be purchased at the prison store (see below). The actual content of your cover letter and letters of support depends on the circumstances of your case and should be discussed with your lawyer. However, you can specify that you: Sunday to Wednesday, 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (local time) Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (local time) If the prosecutor`s office decides to take the case to court, a date will be set for the first hearing. There is no time frame within which the case must be heard, but most detainees are usually brought to trial within one month of their arrest. A judge will then review the case. In severe or complicated cases, it may take longer for a decision to be made.

During the Ramadan and Eid holidays, audiences may be less frequent. Similarly, only a limited number of cases are taken into account between July and September due to the extension of the summer break. The amendment, introduced as a new article in the “Crimes against internal state security” section of the Criminal Code and published in the Official Gazette on 19 January 2020, together with other amendments, provides for up to five years in prison if rumours or false news are spread in bad faith. The new text does not define who determines what is rumour or fake news, how such a decision should be made or what standards should be applied. Nor does it require that the information shared actually harm a legitimate interest. The judiciary is vested in the courts in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution, and court decisions are pronounced in the name of the Emir. There is no doctrine of binding precedent in Qatari law, but in practice, lower courts generally follow the decisions of appellate courts when the same point of law is considered. Less than six months before kick-off, many fans are wondering what to do and what not to do when they are in Qatar ahead of the World Cup. Even if the court did not order deportation, your case may be referred to the Diwan office after serving your sentence.

The couch office will then determine whether someone should be administratively deported or not. Again, the prisoner is responsible for paying for the plane ticket. If you try to take a photo in a sensitive area, you may be arrested. If we are unable to pay the money locally to the recipient, our policy is to refund amounts over £5 to the depositor via bank transfer. In this case, we ask for your bank details. Refunds can take several weeks, as our internal processes cannot begin until all relevant costs have been clarified with local authorities. Qatar`s penal code also criminalizes criticism of the emir; insulting the flag of Qatar; defamation of religion, including blasphemy; and incitement “to overthrow the regime”. Qatar`s 2014 cybercrime law already criminalizes the spread of “fake news” online, with a maximum of three years in prison for anyone convicted of posting content online that “violates social values or principles” or “insults or slanders others.” Payment by electronic/internet bank transfer can be made via online banking or by phone, either from your local bank or a mortgage company. “As Qatar prepares to host the World Cup, security forces detain and mistreat LGBT people simply for who they are, seemingly confident that human rights violations by security forces will go unreported and unchecked,” said Rasha Younes, LGBT researcher at Human Rights Watch. “The Qatari authorities must end impunity for violence against LGBT people. The world is watching.

In the past, British nationals were detained under this law, usually when brought to the attention of the authorities. UN human rights experts recommend that government regulation of online content “should not impose disproportionate penalties, whether heavy fines or imprisonment. given their significant deterrent effect on freedom of expression. In Qatar, you must always have a valid photo ID to prove your identity. If you have dual citizenship and are detained in the country of your other nationality, the British Embassy cannot officially assist you under international law. However, consular staff provide any informal assistance authorized by local authorities. Your family and friends can contact the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in London for advice. You may also be held responsible for cheques you have signed on behalf of a business. If any of the information in this brochure is incorrect, please inform us of any inaccuracies so that we can make the necessary changes. It is illegal to have sex outside of marriage in the country. On Twitter and other social media platforms, Qataris voiced strong opposition to the bill and quickly urged the newspaper to pull the article. Two days later, he issued a statement apologizing for “the controversy over amendments to the penal code” and claiming to have obtained the text from an unofficial source and published it without checking it with the relevant authorities.

As soon as you ask Prisoners Abroad for help, the Prisoner and Family Support Service is your point of contact for advice and information. The type of assistance they can offer varies from country to country, but in general, they can provide you with information in English on: The British Embassy in Doha is not responsible for the information contained in this brochure. Local procedures are subject to change at any time. This publication is licensed under the terms of Open Government License v3.0, unless otherwise noted. To view this license, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk. If we have identified third-party copyright information, you must obtain permission from the relevant copyright holders.