Alcohol, couple, outfit… What is forbidden in Qatar?

The 2022 World Cup, which begins on Sunday in Qatar, would be the first in historical past to happen in a Muslim nation, reputed to be very conservative and straddling traditions. With specific prohibitions? Here’s what you have to know concerning the habits and customs if you’re planning to go to the Emirate.

Supervised alcohol consumption

Usually in Qatar, the consumption of alcohol and drunkenness on public roads are punishable. Nonetheless, the Emirate has needed to adapt for its Western vacationers and the sale and consumption of alcohol is thus approved in licensed bars and eating places, notably in worldwide accommodations. However, it’s forbidden to import alcohol into Qatar (similar to pork merchandise and merchandise deemed pornographic) and any foreigner who tries to convey them into the territory dangers having them confiscated.

For the World Cup, “designated areas” have been arrange, comparable to fan zones, during which it will likely be attainable to purchase and devour alcohol underneath sure circumstances. Ticket holders will be capable of buy alcoholinside the stadium perimeter three hours earlier than kick-off (4 hours earlier than kick-off for the opening match and the ultimate match) and one hour after the ultimate whistle“says the FIFA Supporter’s Information. The native police would nonetheless have been instructed to be extra tolerant with overseas supporters who’re drunk or consuming outdoors these “designated areas”. Alcohol will nonetheless be prohibited within the stadiums, as in France.

However, the consumption and possession of medicine are clearly prohibited and any offender can count on at greatest a advantageous or deportation and at worst a jail sentence.

Easy methods to costume ?

Opposite to in style perception, girls should not required to put on the veil in Qatar, besides in uncommon locations comparable to official buildings and museums. However, an honest outfit is anticipated. By first rate costume, we should perceive a garment protecting the shoulders and knees. For girls, it’s due to this fact really useful to put on lengthy pants or lengthy skirts, accompanied by tops protecting the neck and chest.

In these circumstances, logically, girls won’t be allowed to go to the seashores in bikinis and it’s advisable to wash with a T-shirt and lengthy shorts. Nonetheless, the rules are once more variable in geometry and the authorities are much less cautious about habits within the swimming swimming pools and personal seashores of huge accommodations…

Sexuality, couple, LGBT

This level is especially delicate and FIFA recollects from the outset that “public shows of affection should not a part of the native tradition“. Equally, sexual relations are in idea prohibited outdoors marriage. However on these factors too, we will think about that the native authorities will adapt and that overseas supporters who kiss in entrance of a stadium won’t encounter any issues so long as they don’t achieve this in an excessively exuberant approach. Nor must you count on to see the police arriving in resort rooms to examine whether or not two individuals of the other intercourse are certainly married. Likewise, the organizers have assured that no marriage certificates shall be requested from girls even when they go to a hospital to obtain care associated to their sexual exercise or being pregnant.

Just a little like alcohol, Qatar’s place vis-à-vis LGBT rights is then again extra contradictory. By recalling that homosexuality is “haraam(prohibited, editor’s notice) in Qatar and assimilating it to a “psychological injury“, Khalid Salman, former worldwide and ambassador of the World Cup, lately sparked an enormous controversy. “They’ve to simply accept our guidelines right here“, he added. Even when homosexuality is theoretically punishable by 7 years of imprisonment, the organizers nonetheless guarantee that LGBT supporters shall be welcome and don’t have anything to concern. From there to think about two males daring to affix fingers in the course of the road…