"Everyone will be welcome in Qatar, but please respect our rules and our culture." This could be the perfect summary of the message that the organizing committee of the World Cup, which starts in a week, wants to convey. Meanwhile, many chancelleries and foreign affairs ministries have issued specific documents and guides for fans from their countries who come to follow their teams live, emphasizing that there may be a clash between Western civilization and Qatari uses and customs . "We are a relatively conservative country," says the organization. What can you do in Qatar? It is not possible? What is recommended to avoid? What follows is intended to shed light on what displaced people will find there in the coming weeks.
ALCOHOL
Will it be possible to drink alcohol in Qatar during the World Cup? The answer is yes. Will alcohol flow freely as has happened in other editions of the World Cup? Now the answer is no. In the country it is forbidden to drink alcoholic beverages in public but they can be purchased in certain hotels and restaurants. Also during the tournament, alcohol will be sold in some Fan Zones defined by FIFA and the organization with specific hours. From Qatar it was also warned a few days ago that those fans who are in a state of intoxication will be taken to some spaces set up for the occasion while they do not recover their serenity. You also have to take into account the high price of alcohol in the country. A beer can cost around 25 euros and a mixed drink can go up to almost 30. An unpopular cost. The legal drinking age there is 21. People who drink alcohol on public roads are exposed to a sentence of up to six months in prison and/or a fine of up to 820 euros. According to the Qatari Penal Code, the same punishment can be applied to whoever is found drunk on a main road or disturbs others while intoxicated.
DRUGS
Qatar practices a zero tolerance policy towards drug possession, use and trafficking. The maximum fine for consumption and possession can be up to 51,000 euros and can be accompanied by a prison sentence of between 7 and 15 years. If the offender is a repeat offender or is caught selling drugs, the maximum fine and imprisonment would apply, as well as deportation from the country once the sentence has been served.
GENDER
Qatar is one of 70 countries in the world where sexual relations between individuals of the same gender are criminalized, according to Amnesty International. In the country, sentences of up to 7 years in prison are applied for violation of articles 285 and 296 of the penal code, in reference to these relationships. The organization ensures that everyone will be welcome in Qatar and explains that couples who do not have a marriage bond and same-sex couples will be able to share a hotel room from the inside.
SIGNS OF AFFECTION
"Displays of public affection are not part of the local culture and we kindly ask that this be respected by fans traveling for the tournament." This is what can be read on the official Qatar 2022 website. In practice, any public intimacy between people can lead to arrest.
Living together without being married is prohibited in Qatar, and sex outside of marriage, regardless of whether it involves same-sex couples or opposite-sex couples, is illegal.
These issues can lead to arrest and a potential trial in which the magistrate may apply a fine or jail sentence and deportation once the sentence has been served.
TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS AND IMAGES
Image culture is not the same in the West as it is in Qatar, where care must be taken not to offend sensitivities when taking photographs or videos and subsequently disseminating them, for example on social networks. In case of any doubt, please ask the security forces and in the case of stadiums, it is advisable to request permission before photographing or recording other members of the public. If you address the police, you must be especially careful not to make any offensive comments or obscene gestures. Religious or military spaces are especially sensitive. According to the guide of, for example, the British Foreign Office, some visitors have been arrested after filming images or taking photographs in an inappropriate way for Qatari parameters. The same happens if material that is considered insulting or that threatens the country's culture is posted on the networks. Depending on how the situation is evaluated, it can be resolved with a fine or with hours of arrest. Fans should note that taking photos of government buildings is "not allowed."
DRESS CODE
The word to keep in mind in this concept is “modest”. In this sense, it is recommended not to use too short skirts, shorts or tops. Shoulders and knees are also expected to be covered when entering museums, government and religious buildings, and public places. In the case of women, the use of the shayla (veil that covers the head) is requested in case of visiting a mosque or government building. If people are not dressed in this way they will most likely be denied access to these places. It is also recalled that fans will not be able to remove their shirts inside the stadiums. In other words, those characteristic images of followers, for example English, tattooed from top to bottom should not be produced in Qatari venues. Swimwear will be allowed on the beaches and pools of hotels.
WHAT NOT TO CARRY IN THE SUITCASE
If you are one of those who plan to go to Qatar, keep in mind when packing your suitcase that alcoholic beverages, religious books, pork products or derivatives, electronic cigarettes or pornographic material cannot be brought into the country. Welcome to Qatar.
