Mark Biddle/Flickr

Photo for illustrative purposes only.

As Doha hospitals and clinics grow increasingly crowded, local healthcare providers have been making a big push for patients – especially expectant mothers – to seek treatment outside of Qatar’s capital.

Over the past few years, the country’s steadily growing population has put an increasing strain on public healthcare facilities.

Private options are also struggling to keep up, as the rollout of the Seha insurance plan for Qataris has increased the patient load, making it difficult to maintain a high level of care.

Peter Kovessy

2014 birth figures in HMC hospitals

But according to newly released figures, the lion’s share of babies born in Qatar continues to be at the nation’s public hospitals.

More than 21,000 babies were delivered last year by Hamad Medical Corp. (HMC), an increase of approximately 4.5 percent from 2013.

That doesn’t include figures from privately run hospitals such as Al-Ahli, Al Emadi and Doha Clinic, which health care providers estimate handle a much smaller number of births than HMC.

The vast majority of babies – 16,269 – were delivered at HMC’s main Women’s Hospital near Al Sadd, according to David Barlow, HMC’s director of women’s services.

HMC/Facebook

Women’s Hospital

But that number is actually down from the 17,051 babies delivered in 2013 at the Women’s Hospital, which is currently undergoing an expansion.

Meanwhile, the number of births at the Al Wakrah Hospital – which opened in 2012 – jumped from 2,050 in 2013 to 3,673 last year.

The number of babies delivered at the Al Khor Hospital, meanwhile, climbed 7 percent to 1,197, while births at the Cuban Hospital increased 88 percent to 256.

“We’re trying to ensure that patients are spread around so we’re not overloading one facility,” Barlow told Doha News in a recent interview. “If too much pressure is placed on a single facility, patients won’t get the best care.”

Choosing a hospital

As Qatar’s population grows, Doha is home to an increasingly disproportionate number of residents, relative to the rest of the country.

A 2013 report found that there were 3,136 people per sq km living in Doha, compared to eight people per sq km in Al Shamal.

Christian Mönnig/Flickr

Photo for illustrative purposes only.

To help reduce the strain on the capital, government planners have been encouraging more residents to live outside Doha, enticing them with the construction of more schools, markets and healthcare facilities.

Deciding where in Qatar a woman gives birth typically starts with a conversation between the expectant mother and her doctor in one of the country’s primary health centers, Barlow said.

Patients aren’t always aware of all the available facilities, some of which may actually be closer to a woman’s home than Hamad Medical City, he added.

“People often think of the Women’s Hospital as the default place to give birth, because for a while it was the only (option),” Barlow said. “We’re not forcing people (to go to one hospital over another). Instead, we’re trying to encourage them to think about all the hospitals.”

While high-risk pregnancies are mostly referred to the Women’s Hospital, all of HMC’s general hospitals “are fully equipped for the untoward situations that can happen to a women having a baby,” Barlow said.

Photo for illustrative purposes only.

One factor that can affect a patient’s choice is whether a maternity ward would allow a woman’s husband to be present while his wife gives birth.

Barlow said that given the country’s diverse population, patients tend to be in opposing camps about the practice. He added that HMC tries its best to accommodate a patient’s request, but the physical layout of a maternity ward can make this difficult.

While some rooms can be easily divided at the Cuban and Al Wakrah hospitals, Barlow said it is trickier at the Women’s Hospital, where men are generally not allowed in a delivery room.

Those who feel husbands should not be present in the delivery room would typically not want other men to be in an adjacent hallway.

“It’s not just who is in the room. It’s also about the corridor,” Barlow said.

Big picture

As demand for healthcare rises across the board, Qatar is working to construct nearly a dozen new medical facilities around the country, including an 1,100-bed trauma hospital in Duhail and facilities in Mesaieed, Ras Laffan and Doha’s Industrial Area that focus on treating Qatar’s large blue-collar population.

Sidra

Sidra Hospital

Meanwhile, work continues on the much-delayed Sidra Medical and Research Center, which is expected to deliver 10,000 babies each year while providing reproductive and perinatal care, among other services.

Sidra was initially scheduled to open in 2011, but officials have revised that deadline multiple times. A mid-2015 opening was discussed last year, but Qatar Foundation later fired its contractors in a move believed to have resulted in further delays.

A Sidra spokesperson told Doha News this week that she could not comment on when the facility would open.

Meanwhile, HMC’s new Women’s Hospital is in the “final stages” of interior construction, Barlow said. It’s expected to take up to a year to fit out the facility with medical equipment once the building is handed over to HMC, he added.

Barlow said the new facility would increase the number of Women’s Hospital operating rooms and delivery rooms, from 16 to 21.

He added that the exact number of beds is being revised based on changing patient trends, such as a decline in the average number of nights a new mother stays in a hospital.

Thoughts?

(The post Expectant mothers in Qatar encouraged to seek healthcare outside of Doha is from Doha News.)

Adam Bermingham/Flickr

Photo for illustrative purposes only.

An international human rights group has expressed concern over allegations that three Filipino men convicted of espionage in Qatar were tortured while in custody here.

Amnesty International is urging a full investigation into the matter, ahead of the trio’s next appeal hearing on Monday.

One defendant, reported to be a lieutenant in the Philippines state security force who worked as a budgeting and contracting supervisor at large state-owned Qatari company, was sentenced to the death penalty last April.

The other two men worked as technicians for the Qatar Air Force and were handed life sentences in prison.

The men are reportedly accused of providing information to intelligence officials in the Philippines between 2009 and 2010 about Qatar’s aircrafts, weaponry, maintenance and servicing records, as well as specific details about the names, ranks and phone numbers of staff members.

The Philippines government has strongly denied those charges, and defense counsel has said that procedural errors, including torture, would be part of the appeals case.

Solitary confinement

In a statement, Amnesty said one of the defendants facing a life sentence spent over four years in solitary confinement in Qatar, and was repeatedly tortured during this time.

The advocacy group asserted that after Ronaldo Lopez Ulep’s arrest in April 2010, he spent eight months in detention in a state security prison, during which “he was burned with cigarettes on his back and legs, stripped naked and forced to crawl around on the floor until his knees bled, and was frequently punched and slapped. He was then forced to sign a document in Arabic, which he could not read, that was later presented in court as a ‘confession.'”

Tommaso / Flickr

Photo for illustrative purposes only.

During his years in solitary confinement, he was allegedly only allowed out of his cell two to three times a week for 15 minutes at a time. After three years, he was allowed to leave the cell once a day per a doctor’s recommendation, the group said.

Amnesty added that it had tried to raise the issue with Qatar authorities twice over the past six months, but has received no response.

It has also reached out to the Philippines Embassy here.

In a statement, Deputy Director of Amnesty’s Middle East and North Africa Program Said Boumedouha said:

“If the Qatari authorities want to prove they are serious about having a transparent judicial system and tackling human rights violations, then instead of turning a blind eye to this case they must immediately announce a full investigation into torture allegations and review the way the lower court trial was conducted.

Suspected perpetrators of torture or other serious human rights violations must be brought to justice in fair trials, and victims should be afforded full reparation.”

Since the appeals case began last May, hearings have been either very brief or repeatedly postponed. The next hearing is expected to be held on March 9.

Thoughts?

(The post Amnesty urges Qatar to investigate torture claims in espionage case is from Doha News.)

Via Muneera Al Fadala

Muneera Al Fadala

When Dr. Muneera Al Fadala first decided to study veterinary medicine, she recalled facing a great deal of pushback from her relatives.

“They told me that animals are dirty and filthy and I shouldn’t work with them,” the now 28-year-old Qatari recalled.

Via Muneera Al Fadala

Muneera Al Fadala

But years later, that initial dismay has turned largely into pride, after seeing Al Fadala in action as one of the country’s first local veterinarians.

Explaining the challenges and rewards facing Qataris in her profession, Al Fadala shared her journey with Doha News ahead of International Women’s Day.

Because she works for the government, she often comes face-to-face with fellow nationals as they seek treatment for their pets or livestock.

They are often astonished when she comes to their aid, she said, often asking, “Are you absolutely positive you’re a Qatari female vet?”

But she continued:

“Many told me they want their daughters to turn out like me…and the young girls would tell me they want to become vets too, but they are too scared of (being judged by) Qatari society and culture.”

Al Fadala rejects the taboos associated with caring for animals, describing treating such beings as a very “human” profession.

“Animals cannot talk or express their pain – they are souls that need our care and compassion,” she said.

She added that veterinary medicine is not just about treating pets. For example, people depend on the wellbeing of livestock and chickens for example, to provide them with “healthy milk and meat” on a daily basis.

”Some diseases that affect animals can be transmitted to people as well,” she said. “Without vets, the society would collapse.”

She added that she hoped more Qataris and Arabs here would consider joining the profession, as most vets here hail from western nations.

Childhood

Al Fadala said she has loved animals ever since she was a little girl, playing with them on her grandfather’s farm.

She decided to become a vet when she was only 10 years old, after finding out that a stray cat in her neighborhood she used to play with became injured.

Al Fadala recalled using a first aid kit lying around her home to treat Sousou’s injuries:

”I used to clean her wound and wrap it with gauze around two to three times a day, (and) I could see her getting better day after day,” she said. “She started to walk again and that’s when I fell in love with the profession.”

But despite her passion to help animals, moving forward with her dream was not going to be easy.

Challenges

There is no school in Qatar that offers professional degrees for aspiring veterinarians.

According to Al Fadala, this is because few locals here are interested in pursuing careers as a vet, as “most Qataris don’t believe the profession is sophisticated or prestigious like medicine for example.”

Via Muneera Al Fadala

Muneera Al Fadala

This meant Al Fadala would need to go abroad to pursue her ideal career path – a tough decision for many young Qatari woman, whose families prefer they matriculate close to home.

Al Fadala studied veterinary medicine for five years at Cairo University in Egypt, during which her parents visited her frequently, she said.

Their support, as well as the encouraging words of her two older brothers, played a crucial role in encouraging her to follow her ambitions, she said.

The most difficult challenge she faced was being away from home, her family and friends while studying for her college degree.

”I used to count the hours and days left for me to get back to my country,” she said, adding that the drive to realize her dream job was more powerful than any challenge.

Via Muneera Al Fadala

Muneera Al Fadala

Today, she is one of only three Qatari vets, including one man and another woman.

They have previously called for the establishment of the university in Qatar to encourage more nationals and residents to study the profession, but so far to no avail.

The first time Al Fadala wore her white veterinary coat, she broke down in tears:

“I saw how I looked in the mirror, I got goose bumps all over and started crying because I couldn’t believe that I finally achieved my dream,” she said.

Carving a path

The number of Qatari women in the workplace has been growing slowly in recent years, and female university students in Qatar outnumbered men 2:1 in 2012, according to government figures.

Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar

Photo for illustrative purposes only.

Qatar also ranked among the top Arab nations for women’s rights in a 2013 poll conducted by the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

However, women still have a ways to go here.

For example, of the 29 Qataris that comprise the Central Municipal Council, only one is a woman. And Qatar only appointed its first female judge in 2010.

Meanwhile, Qatar has continued to fare poorly in a separate gender report from the World Economic Forum. The WEF has said that Qatar does well in offering equal educational opportunities to women, but suffers from a widening gender pay gap.

Current responsibilities

Fortunately for Al Fadala, as one of the nation’s only Qatari vets, she is in high demand. After graduated with honors in 2012, she responded to a want ad for local veterinarians at the Ministry of Municipality and Urban Planning and got the job immediately.

“My mom is the one who told me about the ad and encouraged me to apply,” she said.

Dan A'Vard/Flickr

Photo for illustrative purposes only.

Al Fadala is currently practicing her profession in clinics affiliated with the Ministry of Environment.

She pointed out that the clinics offer free treatment, vaccination and operations for both Qatari and non-Qatari residents.

She also oversees a ministry department that catches and neuters stray cats and dogs before releasing them instead of putting them down, in a bid to reduce their negative effects on the community.

“There needs to be a balance in the environment… There’s a need for cats for example to deal with rodents, and we need rodents to deal with insects and so forth,” she said.

Keeping an eye on the future, the vet said she wants to continue her graduate studies and major in treating horses.

“Horses are a main part of our Qatari identity and culture,” she said.

Via Muneera Al Fadala

Muneera Al Fadala

Al Fadala is currently training at the horse racing club to obtain an international license that would allow her to be part of the disciplinary committee involved in international horse beauty contests.

The committee’s responsibility is to guarantee that horses participating in the contest meet the required conditions.

Her exam for the license is in April and if she succeeds, she’ll be the first Qatari female to hold that post.

Al Fadala hopes to set an example to Qatari and Arab youth, especially women.

“If you love something so much and it’s your childhood dream, that’s the biggest incentive you have to overcome any challenges quickly,” she said.

Thoughts?

(The post Breaking taboos, Qatari female vet forges her own career path is from Doha News.)

Simon Boddy/Flickr

Boeing 787 Dreamliner

For the first time, a trio of US airlines has offered detailed figures to support claims that Qatar Airways, Emirates and Etihad receive government funding that allows them to unfairly compete against American carriers.

In the case of Qatar Airways, those state subsidies are alleged to have added up to more than US$16.5 billion since 2004.

“While Qatar Airways claims it is not subsidized, the truth is the exact opposite: without the subsidies, the airline would not be commercially viable,” the airlines’ critics charge in a report released late Thursday.

Qatar Airways

A380 Qatar Airways

The report was submitted to US government officials last month, but not released to the public until a few days ago.

US airlines have long argued that they face unfair competition from the Gulf. Those claims have been consistently denied by Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker and his counterparts in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Earlier this year, the three largest US carriers – American, Delta and United – renewed those allegations with claims that the Gulf carriers have received billions of dollars in government subsidies.

Saying this violates the spirit of the country’s Open Skies agreements with Qatar and the UAE, the carriers are calling on American politicians to renegotiate those deals.

As they stand, airlines – rather than governments – decide on the frequency, capacity and fares of flights between the two countries.

Up until late last week, the US carriers had failed to provide any details to support their allegations. However, an advocacy group called Americans for Fair Skies has since released a 55-page report that forms the basis of the airlines’ most recent accusations.

Government benefits

Qatar Airways is owned by the government and does not disclose its financial results.

Qatar Airways

Photo for illustrative purposes only.

However, its critics say they obtained summaries of the airline’s annual account filings from “certain third country jurisdictions” that they claim show the Qatar government has provided financial assistance to the carrier “since its inception” in 1993.

“The subsidies – over $16 billion in the past decade alone – have enabled Qatar to expand at a rate that would have been impossible otherwise and to remain in business in spite of its poor financial performance,” the report states.

The specific allegations include:

• $8.4 billion in loans that were “unsecured and interest-free with no fixed repayment schedule,” many of which were ultimately forgiven;
• $6.8 billion in loan guarantees. By promising other lenders that it would bail out Qatar Airways if it ran into financial difficulties, the government enabled the carrier to continue raising money despite being otherwise uncreditworthy by US standards;
• $452 million in free land. A 2011 financial report is said to show that the airline was given three plots of land by the government that it sold off two years later;
• $616 million in airport fee exemptions and rebates. Passengers transiting through Doha are exempt from a QR40 fee levied on other departing passengers, which disproportionately benefits Qatar Airways, the only carrier that has such passengers. Additionally, financial statements are said to show various rebates that appear to be refunds to Qatar Airways of the passenger fees assessed on airlines using the airport;
• $215 million in airport revenues. Qatar Airways apparently receives the proceeds of various airport operations such as parking and facility rentals without shouldering any of the associated expenses; and
• $22 million in grants for “incentives and route subsidies.”

Additionally, Qatar Airways is accused of receiving “unquantifiable benefits” from its monopoly on alcohol sales in the country through its Qatar Distribution Co. division.

Takahiro Hayashi/Flickr

Hamad International Airport

The report also asserts that the landing fees at Hamad International Airport “are among the lowest in the world, and far too low to cover the airport’s capital expenditures.”

In other words, Qatar Airways’ rapid growth was helped by the government’s multi-billion dollar financial support of HIA’s construction.

The national carrier has not yet specifically commented on the report that was released Thursday.

However, questions have been raised over what exactly constitutes an unfair “subsidy.” For example, some aviation observers have pointed out that some US carriers have benefited from American bankruptcy protection laws that allow companies to continue operating as they restructure.

Last month, Al Baker didn’t deny that Qatar Airways received money from the government, but characterized it differently:

“We don’t receive any subsidy. What the government has given us is equity into an airline which it owns.”

Implications

The US carriers disagree with Al Baker’s interpretation and, citing the World Trade Organization’s definition, argue that the financial infusions amount to subsidies that violate the spirit on the Open Skies agreements.

Mike Mozart/Flickr

For illustrative purposes only

This, critics charge, runs counter to US aviation policy, which seeks to “(e)nsure that competition is fair and the playing field is level by eliminating marketplace distortions, such as government subsidies…”

Furthermore, the Open Skies agreement between the US and Qatar states that airlines in both countries should have “a fair and equal opportunity” to compete.

If the US airlines are successful in convincing American lawmakers to renegotiate the agreements with Qatar and the UAE, the Gulf carriers could face restrictions on the number of US flights they’re allowed to operate.

That’s currently the case with other countries such as Canada, which limits Qatar Airways to three weekly flights to Montreal despite the airline’s interest in expanding service to the country.

However, it’s not clear how much popular support the American carriers have in the US in their fight against the Gulf carriers.

Boeing

Boeing 777-8X & 777-9X

They are among the largest customers of US plane manufacturer Boeing, which has benefited from the airlines’ rapid expansion.

Meanwhile, the success of the Gulf carriers in the US has shown that many American passengers prefer the service offered by Qatar Airways, Emirates and Etihad over their own country’s carriers.

Thoughts?

(The post US airlines offer evidence claiming Qatar Airways ‘not commercially viable’ is from Doha News.)

Peter Kovessy

A view of Indian Coffee House damage this morning.

A gas explosion has left one injured and temporarily shuttered a popular coffee shop/restaurant off of B Ring Road near the Al Jaidah Flyover.

The blast took place yesterday afternoon shortly after 3pm at Indian Coffee House on Fareej Abdul Aziz Street.

Peter Kovessy

A view of Indian Coffee House damage this morning.

Because it was a break time for the restaurant, no customers were inside when the explosion happened, Noushad CK, CEO of Shelter International Group, which owns the coffee shop, told Doha News.

However, two staff were present at the time of the blast, including an employee who was cleaning the kitchen.

He may have accidentally disconnected the pipe that attaches one of the restaurant’s metal gas cylinders to the stove burner, causing a leak, CK said.

The force of the eventual explosion shattered the front windows of the restaurant, and the staffer was treated for minor burns on his arm before being released from the hospital yesterday, CK said.

He added that he believed the restaurant would reopen within four to five days, after the glass panes are replaced and the kitchen is repaired.

Gas cylinder safety

Yesterday’s blast comes a year after a deadly gas explosion that originated from a Turkish restaurant near Landmark Mall.

Nada Badawi

Aftermath of last year’s explosion at Istanbul restaurant.

The cause of that blast was apparently a pizza oven that had not been turned off properly. The leaking gas eventually was ignited by a spark from kitchen equipment, and the explosion was so strong it affected several neighboring shops, killing 11 people and injured dozens of others.

Qatar authorities have long cautioned residents to take care when cooking with gas, saying in the event of a leak, to immediately open all doors and windows to help dissipate the gas.

They add that people should not turn on the exhaust fan for ventilation or switch on the lights, because that may ignite the flammable gas.

Omar Chatriwala

Shafaf

In an effort to further boost safety, Qatar Fuel (Woqod) has this week launched a new campaign to motivate people to switch from metal cylinders to the newer, safer Shafaf ones.

Those who trade in their old metal cylinders between March 1 and May 31 will be given a discount of QR100 on the new containers, so that the price would be QR265 instead of QR365, the Peninsula reports.

Citing a senior Woqod official, the newspaper said there are about 600,000 metal cylinders in the market, compared to 150,000 Shafaf ones, which are considered safer due to leakage protection.

Thoughts?

(The post One injured in gas explosion at Indian Coffee House in Qatar is from Doha News.)

Lesley Walker

Nasser’s Village compound

Updated at 4:15pm to reflect NBK’s retraction of policy and statement sent to Doha News and at 6pm with comment from Amnesty International.

A Qatar real estate company has withdrawn a policy that was introduced in its residential compounds yesterday requiring sponsors to produce written permission to security guards before their house help leaves the compound.

The board of directors of Nasser Bin Khaled Real Estate, which manages more than QR2 billion of real estate, including Nasser’s Village compound in Abu Hamour and another in West Bay Lagoon, this afternoon issued an apology for the new policy, which it called “shameful” and said constituted illegal practices.

Tenants were sent a letter yesterday that stated:

“It is strictly prohibited for residents’ housemaids to leave the compound without a permission letter from the housemaid’s tenant, to avoid any conflicts and neighborhood problems.

In addition, neither the management nor the security of the compound shall be responsible for any escape of any of your housemaids or the safety of children. Parents are advised to use appropriate means for the safety of their children.”

That notice had been issued without the permission of NBK’s board of directors, according to an official statement sent to Doha News this afternoon by Tammam Akkari, Director of Legal Affairs at NBK Holding Group.

He said:

“The Company has always been and will continue to be an unconditional supporter of the workers’ rights and a vehement defender of the human rights that are one of the top priorities of the State of Qatar and the Laws of the country, without any ounce of discrimination or prejudgments. The ‘prohibitions’ or ‘restrictions’ contained in the circular constitute illegal and inacceptable practices.”

Apologizing to the tenants, and to the citizens and residents of Qatar, he said the company was immediately withdrawing the policy and that its ethics committee would open an investigation on the matter.

“Appropriate disciplinary measures shall be taken against the General Manager of NBK Real Estate,” the statement concluded.

He told Doha News that all tenants would be sent a letter this afternoon apologizing and retracting the policy.

Rationale

A NBK real estate manager told Doha News earlier today that the new policy was implemented after a recent incident in one of the company’s compounds.

He said a domestic worker quit her job and moved out of her sponsor’s home without informing them, leaving a baby alone in the house while both parents were out.

Supplied

Excerpt of NBK Real Estate letter to tenants

He said the child’s parents and compound management were alerted when a neighbor reported hearing the baby crying and security was called to investigate.

As a result, some tenants questioned why security guards had not stopped the woman from leaving the compound, and called for the company to take action to prevent similar situations from happening in the future, he said.

The new policy requires the sponsor of the domestic worker to write and submit a letter to security guards each time the nanny or housemaid wishes to leave the grounds of the compound.

However, the NBK manager said that tenants can opt out of the new policy if they contact their compound management in writing. He continued:

“This rule was brought in to try to mitigate any risk. What happened before was serious. But if a tenant is not happy, and they want their housemaid to move around freely, they can write a letter to their management saying that they give their permission for their maid to come and go. This letter should say that our security and management will not be held responsible for anything which might happen.

We will not impose this on anyone who doesn’t want it. We just want to make sure there is security when tenants are not in their houses. Security for their property, their possessions and their kids. We want to protect the interests of our tenants.”

Workers’ rights

News of the policy sparked an immediate online outcry, with many denouncing the policy as illegal and tantamount to collective punishment.

@dohanews The company shouldn't interfere especially in such a way. It is between the family and the nanny.

— Potch (@PotchJacinto) March 8, 2015

@amadshk @dohanews Its absurd to restrict anyone from free movement. The property managers should have steered clear of that.

— Lamo (@lamidex2) March 8, 2015

While the labor law here does not include domestic workers, Qatar is a signatory to CEDAW (the UN Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women), which it ratified in 2009.

The convention defines discrimination against women as “…any distinction, exclusion or restriction made on the basis of sex which has the effect or purpose of impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment or exercise by women, irrespective of their marital status, on a basis of equality of men and women, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field.”

Amnesty International condemned the initial decision. Researcher Mustafa Qadri said in a statement to Doha News: “Any such policy would be a clear violation of the right to freedom of movement, and is likely also in violation of some international labor standards.

“On a practical level, it would compound the problems faced by domestic workers who already suffer because the Labor Law doesn’t apply to them, and, like almost all migrant labor in Qatar, have had their passports confiscated and are tied to their employer under the Kafala (sponsorship) system.

“Rather than punish domestic workers further, the authorities and their employers should respect the right to freedom of movement, and the right to change employers,” he added.

Along with other Gulf states, Qatar has been intensely criticized by human rights organizations and workers’ groups for failing to have sufficient mechanisms in place to protect its sizable population of female household staff.

Stephan Geyer/Flickr

Photo for illustrative purposes only.

Amnesty International estimates there are around 84,000 women in Qatar working as household staff, including nannies, housemaids and cooks.

The rights group said the demographic is especially vulnerable to exploitation as the private nature of their work can make investigation of allegations of maltreatment difficult.

Documented abuses include complaints about excessive working hours, late and unpaid wages, restrictions on movement and sexual assaults.

In April 2013,  Amnesty International published a 63-page report  “My sleep is my break: Exploitation of migrant domestic workers in Qatar.” The document called for a total overhaul of the system governing the rights of domestic staff, which it described as being broken beyond repair.

The report, comprised of interviews with 52 women working as maids, included harrowing accounts of psychological, physical and sometimes sexual abuse of domestic workers based in Qatar, at the hands of both local and expat sponsors.

No GCC contract

For months, Qatar had been part of discussions among GCC states to introduce a unified contract for domestic workers, which would have been applied across the region’s member states and given legal rights and protections to household staff.

Amnesty International

Photo for illustrative purposes only.

After more than a year of debate, it appeared that a common policy had been agreed Gulf states in November last year.

Among the provisions announced at the time were a weekly day off, the right to live outside their employer’s home, a six-hour working day with paid overtime and the right to travel at any time, the director general of the public authority for workforce Jamal Al-Dosari confirmed to Kuwaiti state news agency KUNA.

However, just days later representatives from Gulf labor ministries backtracked, and were reported in media as saying they didn’t actually have the authority to introduce binding changes.

Thoughts?

(The post Qatar real estate firm denounces, retracts permission policy for workers (updated) is from Doha News.)

British Embassy/Facebook

UK and Qatar flags

The annual month-long British Festival has officially kicked off in Qatar, with several dozen events, including exhibitions, musical performances and other activities planned through April 3.

Organizers said the festival builds on the ties fostered during the Qatar UK 2013 Year of Culture, which focused on collaborations in the areas of art, commerce, culture, education and science.

wasapninworld/Flickr

Photo for illustrative purposes only.

The festival comes at a time when Qatar and UK officials are working to smooth over the strain caused by British media coverage of the 2022 World Cup bid, as well as alleged human rights abuses.

Last summer, Britain’s Ambassador to Qatar, Nicholas Hopton, responded to complaints from Qataris about the negative press by issuing a statement to all Arabic language newspapers in Doha.

In it, he stressed the independence of the UK media, and made clear that the British government has no influence over what it publishes.

He added that the UK would continue to support Qatar in the future, as it always has.

Highlights

Last year, one of the most popular features of the British Festival was a performance from UK parkour company Urban Playground.

This year, highlights of the festival include:

• A concert from the Baroque Choral Society on March 10;
• Macbeth performed by the Doha Players from March 12 to 19;
• An international debating competition on March 16; and
• A Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra rendition of Night of the Proms, directed by Scottish-born conductor Bob Ross on April 3.

The festival will close with a concert by award-winning traditional Scottish band, Breabach, who will perform with Qatari musician Mohamed Al Saigh on April 5 at the Al Rayyan Theater in Souq Waqif.

Also as part of the month’s festivities, Lulu Hypermarkets are selling a number of UK imports, including various teas, chocolates and other foodstuffs.

See the full schedule here.

Do you plan to check out any events? Thoughts?

(The post Concerts, Shakespeare and more planned for BritFest 2015 in Qatar is from Doha News.)

Shabina S. Khatri

Lower criminal court in Doha

A Kenyan security guard on trial for killing an American teacher should be convicted of the lesser charge of manslaughter, not murder, his lawyer told a Doha court today.

In his closing arguments, the lawyer presented an alternative narrative of what led to the death of 40-year-old Jennifer Brown in November 2012.

He said the security guard “snapped” during a verbal altercation and hit the woman’s head against a door. However, the lawyer did not address testimony from a forensic investigator who said Brown died as a result of stab wounds and had been sexually assaulted.

The lawyer’s closing arguments represent one of the final chapters in a long-running case, ahead of an expected verdict next month.

File photo

Jennifer Brown

Brown was killed in her Al Sadd apartment two months after moving to Qatar to work at the English Modern School in Al Wakrah.

Several days after her death, police officers arrested a security guard who worked at the compound where Brown and several of her fellow teachers lived.

According to previous court witnesses, he confessed to the crime and directed investigators to the building’s roof, where he had hidden the knife used to kill the 40-year-old woman. A psychiatric exam conducted eight months after Brown’s death concluded that the man was mentally sound.

If convicted of murder, the defendant could theoretically face the death penalty. However, Brown’s family members said in a letter filed with the court today that they would prefer the man receives a prison sentence if found guilty.

Hearing the wishes of a victim’s family after a crime is committed is a common practice in Qatar. However, the court is not legally bound to honor any sentencing requests.

Closing argument

The defendant’s lawyer told the court today that his client did not intend to kill Brown and that he should have been charged with manslaughter – technically, “beating that led to death.” That crime carries a maximum punishment of 10 years in prison under Qatari law.

In a brief speech, the lawyer argued that the killing was not premeditated. He said that the defendant did not seek out Brown that night and that the teacher requested he come to her flat to make a repair.

Today, the defense lawyer alleged that Brown “picked a fight” with the security guard “as was her habit.”

He added that the woman “yelled at him and bossed him around” and that the man snapped and, in the heat of the moment, hit her head against the door.

The defendant then carried Brown into her bedroom, according to the defense lawyer, who offered no explanation as to why the security guard moved the woman’s body.

UAA Justice Center For Students

Photo for illustrative purposes only.

He did not address testimony from a forensic examiner who said there was evidence that Brown was found partially unclothed in her bed and had been sexually assaulted, which the defendant previously confessed to, according to a police officer’s testimony.

To advance his theory that the security guard had not set out to kill Brown, the lawyer noted that his client had not brought a weapon with him to the flat. Instead, the knife involved in her death was already in Brown’s flat, he said.

Despite making reference to the weapon, the lawyer maintained that Brown had been beaten to death and did not say how the knife had been used that day.

The lawyer did not attempt to reconcile his version of events with the testimony from the forensic examiner, who said Brown died from a loss of blood resulting from the stab wounds.

He only addressed the testimony from witnesses in general terms, arguing that nothing conclusive had been said that proved his client went to Brown’s flat with the intention of killing her.

The prosecutor remained silent during today’s hearing and did not make any closing arguments.

The defense lawyer is expected to prepare a written version of his argument that the security guard be charged with manslaughter, rather than murder, ahead of the judge delivering a verdict on April 14.

Thoughts?

(The post Qatar judge sets verdict date in Jennifer Brown murder trial is from Doha News.)

Shabina S. Khatri

New 80km/hour speed limit on expressway.

The Doha Expressway has seen improved traffic flow and no major accidents since the speed limit there was reduced in January, a senior traffic official has said.

Motorists were caught off-guard two months ago when signage on the stretch of the busy highway between the interchange with Salwa Road and Duhail changed overnight to reflect that the maximum speed limit was cut from 100km/h to 80km/h.

Speaking to local media yesterday, Brig. Mohammed Saad Al Kharji, director of the Traffic Department, called the reduced limit a “temporary” measure to make it easier and safer for vehicles to join the main flow of traffic on the expressway from adjoining slip roads and service roads.

He continued, as quoted by Qatar Tribune:

“Many of the entrances and exits on the road have a speed limit of 80 kph. The resulting inconvenience and congestion on those parts of February 22nd Street (the Expressway) prompted the Traffic Department to reduce the speed limit on the main road to match those at the entrances and exits on a temporary basis.”

A Qatar-based traffic consultant told Doha News that another one of the benefits of a slower speed limit was that drivers could safely leave less distance between them and other vehicles.

Ayaz Ahmad

Photo for illustrative purposes only.

Driving at higher speeds means leaving more of a gap, but this can encourage some drivers to cut into that empty space, he explained. This prompts drivers to suddenly slow down, which causes a domino effect in heavy traffic that can lead to multiple accidents.

According to Al Kharji, the 100 km/h limit could be reinstated once major construction work to Al Rayyan Road is completed.

However, the second phase of that project is not expected to be finished until the fall of 2017, according to Ashghal - which means motorists may yet face another 2.5 years of slower speeds on the expressway.

Highway woes

The expressway, which opened to traffic in 2010 as a fast north-south route through Doha, has become one the city’s busiest roads.

In morning and evening rush hours in particular, vehicles typically move at a slow crawl, rarely reaching speeds of more than 20 km/h. Often times, frustrated drivers can be seen using the emergency lane to bypass traffic, or cutting in to queued-up exit routes at the last minute, in a bid to save time.

As a result, the road has been the site of a number of serious and minor accidents in recent years.

PIHC/Flickr

Photo for illustrative purposes only.

Overall, the number of traffic accidents on Qatar’s roads has increased significantly in the past two decades.

According to research by Qatar University’s Qatar Road Safety Studies Center (QRSCC) published earlier this year, road accidents rose by 560 percent in the period between 1996 and 2013. This outstrips the population increases, which grew at about 330 percent over the same period.

The study found that Sunday and Monday evenings, from 6pm until 9pm, were when the highest number of fatalities happened.

Young men aged 20 to 30 years old were most likely to be killed on the roads, as they accounted for a staggering 90 percent of all mortalities, it added.

Surrounding works

Public works authority Ashghal is in the midst of an ambitious overhaul of Qatar’s roads as part of its national expressway program, which aims to upgrade key routes through the state to meet the needs of the growing population and prepare for the 2022 World Cup.

Ashghal

A rendering of Al Rayyan Road with Al Amir St.

The reconstruction of 8.2km of Al Rayyan Road, in two phases, is part of this plan. Work started in summer last year to upgrade a 2.9km stretch of the route from west of Khalid bin Abdullah al-Attiyah roundabout (New Rayyan roundabout) to the east of Bani Hajer roundabout, servicing areas around Education City.

Estimated to be complete by the end of next year, it will create an eight-lane expressway, with four lanes in each direction, and 2km of peripheral roads to be constructed or upgraded.

The second phase, which is not due to be finished until Fall 2017, includes a 5.3km stretch from west of Sports roundabout to west of Khalid Bin Abdullah Al-Attiyah roundabout (New Rayyan roundabout).

It will also create an eight-lane expressway (four lanes in each direction), in addition to upgrading 5.4km of side and service roads, and the construction of six new intersections.

Thoughts?

(The post Official: Qatar expressway seeing fewer crashes with new speed limit is from Doha News.)

Omar Chatriwala

Replica of Katara development, circa 2013.

A luxury spa, an upmarket French department store and a children’s mall will anchor a new outdoor air-conditioned commercial plaza that is set to open next year at Katara Cultural Village, officials have announced.

“Katara Plaza” will contain the Middle East’s first evian spa, named after the French mineral water firm. It will also be home to Qatar’s first Galeries Lafayette, a Paris-based retailer specializing in clothing, accessories and homeware, Katara managers told media yesterday while discussing details of the new development.

The plaza will be 38,000 square meters, which is equivalent to approximately one-quarter of City Center Mall’s retail area.

Chantelle D'mello

Cooling technology at FIFA Brazil fan zone at Katara, summer 2014.

Acknowledging that a glut of commercial centers will be opening in Qatar over the next few years, officials said Katara Plaza’s traditional architecture and climate-controlled open-air design would help it compete.

Outdoor cooling technology was previously exhibited at Katara last summer during screenings of the 2014 World Cup.

Open-air fan zones were set up at the cultural village, where spectators watched football matches broadcast from Brazil outdoors. Despite Qatar’s searing summer heat, many fans said they were actually cold while in the zone.

Big plans

Katara has seen a flurry of development in recent years.

Plans for a retail area, previously dubbed “The Valley,” have long been in the works for the area adjacent to Al Istiqlal Street, between the two ridges of land separating the busy road and the cultural village.

Omar Chatriwala

Replica of Katara development, circa 2013.

A separate construction project, “Katara Hills” is underway to build a waterfront community atop the embankments.

According to Katara’s website, the project will be a low-rise mixed-use development consisting of villas, townhouses and apartment flats “targeted to be a venue for high-class VIPs and celebrities, providing a luxurious living lifestyle, together with an authentic and enriching cultural experience.”

There were also plans for a fourth phase, which would be a 178,000-square-meter mixed-use development on the southern edge of the Katara property. No details have been released on the status of that project.

Officials said the revenues from the residential and commercial developments are envisioned to support Katara’s cultural programming, which includes exhibitions, festivals and galleries.

“We are working to (be) an economically profitable cultural institution,” Katara general manager Khalid bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti said in a statement.

While the architecture and adjacent cultural amenities are likely to give the commercial area a unique appearance, Katara will nevertheless be competing for tenants against several other new shopping centers – many of which are also chasing high-end, luxury retailers.

Cultural institutions such as Katara form a key plank of Qatar’s tourism strategy, which aims to dramatically increase the number of visitors to the country in the coming years.

Al-Sulaiti said yesterday that Katara received 14 million guests last year, twice as many as the 7 million people who visited in 2013, according to the Gulf Times.

Thoughts?

(The post New Katara Plaza to house luxury stores, Qatar’s first children’s mall is from Doha News.)

Video still

For illustrative purposes only.

As the number of Nepalis who die in Qatar continues to rise, a former ambassador who was stationed here for five years has begun speaking out against the treatment of his compatriots.

In an interview with CNN this week, Suryanath Mishra, Nepal’s ambassador to Qatar from 2007 to 2012, said that because many Nepalis here lack education and technical skills, they are amongst the country’s most exploited labor groups.

“Nepali migrant workers have the lowest per capita income in Qatar,” he told the channel, adding that some 55 percent of Nepali migrant workers deaths here are the result of “sudden” cardiac arrest, 20 percent are from work-related accidents, 15 percent from traffic accidents and 10 percent are suicides.

“The cause of deaths needs to be investigated properly, and urgently,” he said. “In general, it is due to tension led by exploitation, adverse climate, poor working and living conditions and alcoholic intoxication.”

There are about 400,000 Nepalis working in Qatar, according to embassy officials.

CNN cites Nepal government figures as stating that that more than 290 workers have died here in the last 420 days.

But autopsies are rarely conducted on workers in Qatar, which make determining the precise cause of death difficult.

Pay hikes urged

After Mishra’s term, Dr. Maya Kumari Sharma served as ambassador to Doha. But she was recalled by the Nepali government less than halfway into her term in 2013, and no new ambassador has been named.

Mishra’s comments come weeks after officials in Nepal formally asked Qatar to review the salaries of nationals here and set a minimum wage.

In January, Suresh Man Shrestha, secretary of Nepal’s Ministry of Labor and Employment, said authorities had not yet agreed to the idea, which was also raised in 2013.

A migrant worker’s journey ends with a coffin, and mourning – CNN.com

At that time, the Nepal embassy in Qatar told Doha News that it was asking that the minimum wage for its nationals be raised from QR800 (US$220) – which includes a monthly food allowance – to a total of QR1,200 ($330).

It’s not immediately clear what became of that proposal.

Speaking to Doha News last fall, a manager of one local manpower agency said that the standard monthly salary for Nepalese laborers was QR900 ($247). But skilled workers can make up to QR1,200 a month, he added.

Many Nepalis flock to Qatar to earn money for their families back home. CNN interviewed relatives of a recently deceased man upon his body’s return to his village in Dhanusha district.

Kishun Das left Nepal for Qatar eight months ago, to help support his five children and extended family members. The 38-year old’s cause of death was not known to his relatives.

Thoughts?

(The post Former Nepali ambassador to Doha urges investigation into expat deaths is from Doha News.)

Qatar Rail

One of 21 tunnel boring machines expected to be used by Qatar Rail this year.

Contractors on the Doha Metro are currently working to fix a boring machine that suffered damage after part of the Red Line North tunnel flooded last month, Qatar Rail has confirmed.

Multiple individuals working on the project who spoke to Doha News on the condition of anonymity said the incident happened in late February and occurred several hundred meters away from Msheireb in the direction of the Emiri Diwan.

A spokesperson confirmed to Doha News that the incident occurred and said in a statement that no one was injured.

Qatar Rail

Rendering for illustrative purposes only.

Qatar Rail added that it did not believe the flooding would have “any significant impact” on the Red Line, which will run between Msheireb and Lusail, or the overall Doha Metro project, which is scheduled to welcome passengers in 2019.

However, more than one contractor expressed skepticism that the project timelines would be unaffected despite the TBM being out of commission.

Qatar Rail did not provide any details about what exactly happened, except to say that the flooding occurred during “pilot tunneling operations.”

Pilot tunnels are typically small-diameter holes bored in advance of, or parallel to, the main tunnel that are used to gather detailed information about the underground soil, sand and rock conditions.

The Red Line North consists of two twin tunnels, only one of which was affected by flooding, Qatar Rail said.

What’s next

Msheireb will be one of the flagship stations of the Doha Metro and a major transfer point for passengers, connecting all four lines currently under construction.

They include:

• The Red Line North, running from a connection with Lusail’s light-rail line to Msheireb via West Bay;
• The Red Line South, running from Msheireb to Hamad International Airport;
• The Green Line, running from Al Rayyan Stadium to Msheireb via Education City; and
• The Gold Line, running from Villaggio Mall to the area around the old Doha International Airport, via Msheireb.

The metro will also connect to two other separate rail projects: The Lusail light-rail line, which contractors say will be operational by 2018 and a long-distance passenger and freight service that will initially run between Education City and Saudi Arabia.

One source said there is a surprising amount of subterranean water in Qatar, despite its dry desert climate, and that the water entering the tunnel is likely being forced in from Doha Bay.

He said extensive soil testing was done prior to any digging, but there happened to be a weakness in the earth between two test sites.

“They can’t test every meter of the way,” the man said. “It’s just rotten luck.”

He added that the high salinity of the seawater entering the tunnel added to the damage done to the tunnel boring machine (TBM), which the man said was still submerged as of last week.

Tunneling challenges

The incident involving the Doha Metro isn’t the first time a TBM has been damaged by floodwater.

In 2012, saltwater badly corroded a TBM that was digging a tunnel for a new water line under a sea channel in the New York City Harbor. At that time, a hurricane flooded the tunnel and submerged the TBM, necessitating the replacement of corroded hydraulic components and electrical systems, and delaying the project.

Qatar Rail

One of Qatar’s TBMs

TBMs are commonly used to dig through rock and soil to make way for underground rail lines and other major projects.

To help meet its tight deadlines, Qatar has imported nearly two dozen TBMs from Germany, each worth millions of dollars.

All 21 machines, which are so massive they need to be shipped in parts and take months to reassemble once they reach Qatar, are expected to be in operation this year.

A spokesperson for Herrenknecht, which supplied Qatar’s TBMs, declined to comment on the damage to its equipment when contacted by Doha News.

Qatar Rail previously said that the TBMs were expected to travel at a speed of between 12 and 21m per day, depending on soil conditions.

This year, more than 600 cubic meters of material are expected to be excavated daily, and some of what’s taken out of the ground will be reused in the construction of Qatar’s long-distance rail line.

Thoughts?

(The post Doha Metro boring machine damaged in unexpected tunnel flood is from Doha News.)

Qatar 2022 Bid Committee

Lusail Stadium rendering, as submitted by Qatar during bid process.

The firm led by British architect Sir Norman Foster will design Qatar’s flagship football stadium at Lusail city, which will host the World Cup opening ceremony and final match in 2022, the local organizing committee has confirmed.

Lusail Stadium, which is the eighth Qatar venue to be confirmed, is expected to be the largest of Qatar’s World Cup arenas, with the capacity to seat 80,000 people.

It will feature an open-air pitch that can be cooled to 26C using cooled and shaded spectator stands, the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC) said in a statement yesterday.

Qatar 2022 Bid Committee

Lusail Stadium rendering, as submitted by Qatar during bid process.

Foster + Partners will collaborate with sports and stadium experts including ARUP and Populous to create the final design for the arena, which will be an “iconic, contemporary stadium inspired by Qatari culture,”the committee’s Secretary General Hassan Al Thawadi said.

Details of the final design have yet to be publicly revealed, though a preliminary rendering was submitted when Qatar first bid for the World Cup five years ago.

Describing his ethos for the new stadium, Foster, who is chairman and founder of Foster + Partners, said: “This is an exciting step forward in stadium design – it will be the first to break the mold of the free-standing suburban concept, and instead anticipates the grid of this future city, of which it will be an integral part.”

He continued:

“The project also pioneers the idea of an ongoing life for the stadium beyond the big event. The environmental strategies, particularly those that address the players as well as the spectators, will also be of international interest to the sporting public as well as those concerned with the architecture.”

Workers’ rights

All contracts for the Lusail stadium project will be governed by the SCDL’s Workers Welfare Standards, which were announced in 2013 and outline a number of basic rights that all contractors working on World Cup-related projects in Qatar are required to follow.

Richard Messenger/Flickr

Photo for illustrative purposes only.

Among the provisions of the charter are that workers engaged directly or indirectly on World Cup projects enjoy health safety, equality in terms of rights irrespective of belief, nationality ethnicity and religion, access to accurate information regarding workers’ rights and safer living conditions.

Qatar Foundation also has a similar charter, and last month public works authority Ashghal was said to be considering adopting a scheme that would stipulate guaranteed minimum living and working conditions.

Qatar has come under intense international scrutiny for its treatment of migrant workers since it was announced as host city for the 2022 World Cup.

Following yesterday’s announcement about Lusail, human rights activists appealed to Lord Foster to ensure the arena will be built ethically. Speaking to the Independent, Amnesty International researcher Mustafa Qadri said:

“Whether or not Sir Norman speaks out on Qatar’s exploitative labor conditions, he should scrupulously ensure that his company and those with which it does business are not complicit in human-rights violations taking place in Qatar.”

Foster + Partners has designed dozens of landmark buildings throughout the world, and is currently drawing up plans for an extension to the passenger terminal at Hamad International Airport (HIA), which opened last year.

Other projects in the Gulf include the design of the new passenger terminal being built at Kuwait International Airport and the under-construction Zayed National Museum on Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi.

Other stadiums

Lusail Stadium is the eighth arena to be confirmed as a venue for hosting World Cup matches in Qatar.

While the nation made its bid on the basis of games on 12 sites, it is expected to pare that number, with an official decision to be announced this year. FIFA requires at least eight venues to be used to host the 64 matches during the international tournament.

Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy

Al Khor Al Bayt Stadium

So far, the SC has revealed the designs for four of the stadiums.

Al Wakrah stadium was the first to be revealed, and has been designed by British architect Zaha Hadid. Along with the 60,000-seater Al Bayt stadium in Al Khor, it is set for completion in 2018.

Khalifa International Stadium at Aspire Zone will be extensively remodeled, but will retain its iconic arcs and include an Olympic and sports museum among its facilities when it is set to be the first finished stadium in 2016.

Also set to be built by the end of 2018 is the Qatar Foundation stadium in Education City.

SCDL

Qatar Foundation stadium rendering

That venue has been dubbed the “diamond in the desert” due to the design of its geometric patterns that appear to change color as the sun arcs across the sky, architect Mark Fenwick said when the stadium design was unveiled in December.

Expected to seat 40,000 spectators, it will be used for matches through to the quarter finals.

While organizers have said that Al Rayyan Stadium will be totally rebuilt rather than just refurbished as was originally planned, they have not yet revealed a design for this venue.

Other confirmed sites for stadiums include Qatar Sports Club in Dafna/West Bay, and another venue near the new airport.

Work on these is expected to get underway in the second quarter of 2015.

Meanwhile, speculation on the dates for the World Cup in Qatar should end soon, as FIFA is expected to confirm on March 19 when the tournament will take place – likely in the cooler winter months.

Thoughts?

(The post Foster + Partners win bid to design Qatar’s Lusail World Cup stadium is from Doha News.)

Shabina S. Khatri

Appeals court

A Filipino man on death row in Qatar may have embezzled money from his company, but is not a spy, his lawyer told an appeals court yesterday.

Delivering his closing arguments, the defense attorney said a two-year investigation failed to produce any evidence connecting the man and his two co-defendants to espionage, beyond a confession that a human rights organization said was obtained under torture.

A criminal court convicted three men from the Philippines on espionage-related charges last year. One man, reported to be a lieutenant in the Philippines state security force who worked as a budgeting and contracting supervisor at Qatar Petroleum (QP), was sentenced to the death penalty.

The other two men – technicians working with the Qatar Air Force – were given life sentences in prison.

The exact nature of the allegations remains unclear.

Some reports suggest that the men passed along classified information about Qatar’s aircrafts, weapons and members of its armed forces to intelligence officials in the Philippines.

Others who have followed the case say the charges relate to economic secrets surrounding Qatar’s offshore oil and gas reserves that somehow ended up in the hands of foreign companies.

The Philippines government has denied it is involved in any spying activities in Qatar.

my_southborough/Flickr

Photo for illustrative purposes only.

At an appeal hearing yesterday, the defense lawyer for the men said the only evidence connecting his clients to espionage was a confession “obtained under coercion and duress.”

The lawyer did not elaborate on the mistreatment claims.

However, over the weekend, Amnesty International alleged that the men were tortured. The human rights organization said one of the men was:

“…burned with cigarettes on his back and legs, stripped naked and forced to crawl around on the floor until his knees bled, and was frequently punched and slapped. He was then forced to sign a document in Arabic, which he could not read, that was later presented in court as a ‘confession.’”

The defense lawyer said yesterday that the men were not involved in anything remotely resembling espionage, and that the only allegations of substance against the lead defendant is of corruption and embezzlement for personal financial gain.

Embezzlement

Also yesterday, the defense lawyer recapped the testimony of several investigators and other witnesses who appeared during the lower court trial. He said they failed to provide any evidence of espionage.

The lead defendant moved to Qatar in 1987 to work at the British Embassy before moving to state utility Kahramaa and then QP, where he oversaw tenders and contracts while at QP.

This meant he was privy to information that was shared with prospective contractors interested in bidding on the state-owned company’s projects, the lawyer said.

In 2010, allegations of financial misconduct involving a training program at QP surfaced, triggering an internal investigation, the lawyer said.

It concluded that the defendant was involved in embezzlement, but found no evidence of espionage, the lawyer said, citing testimony given by QP’s investigator during the lower court hearing.

Following yesterday’s hearing, the defense lawyer told reporters that the court has heard that prosecutors previously launched an investigation into the financial misconduct allegations.

That case is still open, the lawyer said, although he’s been unable to discern if it is still being actively pursued or has been shelved.

‘No proof’

It’s not clear what prompted state security officers to suspect the men were spies. The prosecutor remained silent during yesterday’s hearing and has not presented any arguments during the appeal trial.

The defense lawyer suggested the authorities became suspicious of the men’s motives after searching the lead defendant’s laptop and finding a photograph of the defendants holding firearms during a trip to the Philippines.

The investigation lasted more than two years before the men were arrested on espionage charges in 2010.

Despite monitoring the first defendant for an extended period, state security officers failed to produce any audio recordings, photographs or other evidence in court that he was a spy beyond his confession, the lawyer charged.

“It doesn’t make any sense. Even in lesser crimes, phones get tapped. Why was no proof submitted by this officer after two years of investigation?”

The lawyer also cited lower court testimony from a Qatar military officer, who said one of the other defendants held a relatively junior position as an air force contractor, where he would not have had access to sensitive or confidential information.

(U.S. Navy Photo by Paul Farley

A Qatar Emiri Air Force Dassault Mirage 2000-5 fighter jet.

Furthermore, the information that the Filipino man is accused of leaking – such as the helicopter and airplane models purchased by Gulf countries – is publicly available on the internet, the military officer told the lower court, according to the defense lawyer.

He closed his arguments by asking that the three defendants be exonerated. If that’s not possible, he requested the court show the “utmost leniency.”

A verdict is set to be delivered at the next hearing, scheduled for May 31.

Thoughts?

(The post No proof Filipino men were spies, lawyer tells Qatar court is from Doha News.)

Chantelle d'Mello

Lifebelt

As Qatar kicks off the 31st edition of GCC Traffic Week under the slogan “your decision determines your destiny,” a new device is being launched here to compel motorists to buckle up before driving.

The device, called Lifebelt, is a three-part electronic system that can be fitted to any vehicle by a technician. Once installed, it sends a radio frequency signal that prevents ignition until the driver and front-seat passenger put on their seatbelts.

If the seatbelts are undone once the car is in motion, the vehicle would continue running, but the radio, navigation screen, CD player and other electronic features would be automatically disabled until the belts are re-fastened.

Lifebelt has been around for a number of years, and became more widely-known after its inventor Robert Allison appeared on US network ABC’s Shark Tank program five years ago, appealing for business professionals to invest in it.

The product has been rolled out by one automotive company in Texas, and will now be available in Qatar for the first time.

Doha launch

Zaid Qassim, the founder of Doha-based technology company Ajyaltek, told Doha News he bought the rights to market the device internationally and was launching it in Qatar as part of a campaign to reduce the number of deaths from road accidents.

Chantelle d'Mello

Zaid Qassim

Qassim’s company has a booth at the traffic week venue Darb Al Saii in Al Sadd, where Lifebelt is installed in a Land Cruiser loaned to him from Toyota.

The 21-year-old Canadian said he was inspired after a number of his own friends and acquaintances died in traffic accidents here:

“Qatar has one of the highest road death rates per capita in the world. There was a time when I was going to three funerals a week of young people as a result of car crashes. I just thought we have to do something about this,” he said.

After watching a re-run of the episode of Shark Tank that featured Allison pitching for investment, Qassim contacted the inventor and struck a deal, giving Ajyaltek exclusive international marketing rights for the product, which he plans to eventually roll out across the wider region.

Chantelle d'Mello

Seat belt campaign at Traffic Week 2015

Qassim said he wants to encourage younger people particularly to think about buying it as a way of enforcing a seat belt habit while driving.

The Lifebelt, which costs QR550, can be ordered through Ajyaltek’s website by sending an email to the company to arrange purchase and installation.

The initial package operates the driver’s seat and front passenger seat. Additional systems can be bought for passengers sitting in the back seat.

Seat belt campaign

By law, all drivers and front-seat passengers are required to wear a seatbelt in Qatar.

To drive this point home, the launch of Lifebelt will soon be followed by a wider public road safety awareness campaign on the importance of seatbelt usage here, in conjunction with the Traffic Department.

Under the slogan Qatar Vision Zero, reflecting the ultimate target of no road deaths in the state, the campaign aims to enlist the support of more than two dozen ambassadors and diplomats in Qatar and other public figures to help change the perception that seat belts are for “old people,” Qassim said.

“We will use them to get across the message that using a seat belt is a manly thing. It’s not just for old people. Everyone needs to buckle up,” he added.

Ryan Dickey/Flickr

Photo for illustrative purposes only.

Research published earlier this year from the Qatar Road Safety Studies Center (QRSSC) at Qatar University found that young men aged 20 to 30 years old made up an overwhelming 90 percent of the fatalities in the state as a result of traffic accidents.

Not buckling up while driving is considered a contributing factor to many road-related injuries and deaths in Qatar.

Late last year during a workshop, a leading Qatar doctor revealed the extent of the problem, focusing particularly on unrestrained children in vehicles.

According to Dr. Ayman El-Menyar, director of the Integrated Clinical Research Unit of HMC’s Trauma Center, who examined traffic accidents involving children from 2010-2012:

“Eighty-six percent of the children who died during those years had injuries so severe that they died even before reaching the hospital, or at the scene of the crash.

Forty percent of victims of all transport-related injuries, and 80 percent of victims who died from their injuries, were 15 to 18 years old. The data also shows that only 1.2 percent of the injured passengers and drivers were using seat belt or a car seat.”

While children under the age of 10 years old are legally not allowed to sit on the front seat, this is often not enforced.

Traffic week

This week’s traffic week activities at Darb Al Saii are free and open to the public.

The various stalls set up at the venue include ones from international automobile companies like Toyota and Harley Davidson, and booths showcasing work done and gear used by Lekhwiya, Al Fazaa, the Civil Defense Unit, the K­9 Unit and various other branches of the country’s police force.

There are also daily lectures on accident prevention and responsible driving, as well as several handicraft booths, restaurants, a fun zone for children and separate camel, pony and falcon displays.

Other offerings include free art workshops for children; seminars on driving decisions, traffic mistakes and motorbike risks; demonstrations by local driving schools; and a speaker series featuring guests from Hamad Hospital, the Qatar Lawyers Association, Qatar Red Crescent, the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs and the Qatar Awareness Group, according to Qatar News Agency.

Activities at Darb Al Saii run until Saturday, from 8am to noon, then 4pm until 10pm.

Thoughts?

(The post New device forcing drivers to buckle up launched at Qatar traffic week is from Doha News.)

Chantelle D'mello

Photo for illustrative purposes only.

Qatar’s public works authority has said it will close Othman Bin Affan St., near Villaggio Mall, to southbound traffic for the next eight months as it upgrades infrastructure in the East Al Aziziya area.

The closure begins Thursday, March 12. It will affect motorists traveling along the road from Al Waab St. toward Saeed Bin Al Aas, as well as those who use Othman Bin Affan St. to access the side roads running off it on the west side.

Ashghal

New Ashghal diversion

Individuals trying to access those properties cut off from Othman Bin Affan Street are advised to use Al Aziziya St. instead.

To help cope with traffic, Ashghal said it has built a temporary road for vehicles to use during construction. A map distributed by the department shows northbound lanes, as well as access to the side streets on the east of Othman Bin Affan Street, remaining open.

Upgrades

Last December, Ashghal signed a QR217 million (US$59.6 million) contract with Leighton Contracting Qatar to upgrade the infrastructure in the east Al Aziziya area.

The scope of work includes constructing storm water drainage, sewage networks, roadway entrances and exits, parking lots and landscaping across some 720,000 square meters.

The project is part of a broader QR5.53 billion ($1.52 billion) announcement of several expressway, sewage and roadway contracts as Ashghal tries to ensure Qatar’s infrastructure keeps pace with the country’s rapidly growing population.

Thoughts?

(The post Ashghal announces eight-month road closure in East Al Aziziya is from Doha News.)

Lillie, Jackson & Willsher Weekes Memorial Page/Facebook

Weekes’ children

In May 2012, 19 people, including two-year-old triplets Lillie, Jackson and Willsher Weekes, died in a fire at Villaggio Mall. Today, the children’s parents will mark what would have been their fifth birthday.

Five people were convicted of involuntary manslaughter in relation to the deaths, a case that is now held up in appeals. Here, New Zealander Jane Weekes shares with Doha News readers an adapted version of a recent Facebook post she wrote mourning her family’s loss, and asking if justice will ever be served.

Lillie, Jackson and Willsher would have been five years old today, and we are having a hard time coping with the “should’ves, would’ves and could’ve beens.”

I should be out searching for the perfect school bags and stationary for them.

They would have been sad to leave their kindy friends but excited to see their other friends at their new school.

I could have been worrying about being “that” mother crying her eyes out at the school gate because my babies were now School Kids and that I’d put too much sugar/gluten/McDonalds in their lunch boxes!

Martin Weekes

Grave of Lillie, Jackson and Willsher Weekes

Instead I’ve found myself crying over what they, Martin and I are missing out on.

I’m sure those of you out there who have also lost children, or other loved ones too young understand.

We don’t just grieve for the memories we have of our babies, but we mourn the dreams we have had for them. The first day of school, the first football match, the first ball dress etc…

As each milestone or special occasion happens the scar is ripped off and the gaping wound below is exposed as raw and bleeding again.

Waiting for justice

Things are made even harder as to this day, there has still been no justice for the children who were killed at Villaggio.

None of the people convicted of our babies’ manslaughter have spent a single day in prison.

UAA Justice Center For Students

Photo for illustrative purposes only.

The owners and managers of Gympanzee, Sheikh Ali Bin Jassim Al Thani and Iman Al Kuwari, are representing Qatar in Belgium as the Qatari Ambassador and his wife. The couple sometimes doesn’t attend the appellate court hearings, and have given excuses about work duties or needing to take care of their children.

If they had taken proper care of ours, they would still be alive today.

We are trying to have faith in the justice system of Qatar, but when convicted felons are rewarded with diplomatic postings we feel our children’s lives have been disregarded, and dismissed as trivial compared to the career of a high-born Qatari.

We hope everyone will remember that to this day Villaggio has never acknowledged what, if any improvements it has made to its emergency systems or procedures. Nor have they taken any responsibility for their role in the deaths of 13 children, four young women and two firefighters.

Chantelle D'mello

Memorial for Villaggio fire victims on second anniversary of deaths.

We hope that everyone will remember that the Villaggio fire, the mishandling of the investigation, the non-disclosure of any reports and the continued torture of the victims families with court adjournments and delays continues to bring shame on Qatar.

We also hope everyone in Qatar will take a moment to remember Lillie, Jackson and Willsher, and to imagine what they should have been like on the 11th of March when they would have turned five.

We miss them as much today as we did nearly three years ago when I kissed them goodbye while having their morning snack in Gympanzee and said “Mummy loves you, see you later.”

Thoughts?

(The post Opinion: Dreading the birthday of my triplets, who died in Qatar is from Doha News.)

Richard Messenger/Flickr

Photo for illustrative purposes only.

More affordable mid- and high-rise residential accommodations are needed in Qatar, and an end should be put to ongoing rent increases for the nation’s lower income workers, members of the Central Municipal Council (CMC) said yesterday.

Due to an ongoing shortage in affordable housing, particularly in central Doha, many residents live in villas and apartments that are illegally sub-divided.

J. Zach Hollo

Photo for illustrative purposes only.

This overcrowding puts a burden on utilities and neighborhood amenities such as parking and garbage collection, as well as threatens the safety and security of residents, some CMC members said during their weekly meeting.

Partitioning single housing units in order to sub-let them on a multiple-occupancy basis without permission from the authorities is illegal in Qatar under Law No. 4 of 1985.

As part of a crackdown on partitioning, the 30-year-old law was updated last summer to introduce tougher penalties on those caught modifying properties illegally.

In addition to fines of up to QR500 per square meter for illicitly modified properties, plus a charge for reinstating it to its original state, the new requirements also include penalties of up to QR100,000 on the contractors who undertake these changes.

More housing

But CMC members argue that authorities should create more affordable housing options before punishing those who are living in partitioned accommodation.

They also spoke out against demolishing the properties, which would lead to massive rent hikes in nearby remaining apartments, as demand would significantly outstrip supply.

CMC member Hamad Lahdan al-Muhannadi, as quoted in The Gulf Times, said:

“Most buildings in the country follow the two- or three-story system, producing a limited number of units. Consequently, people resort to such practices (partitioning). We need to find practical and valid alternatives before taking any measures against this practice.

The urban planning authorities should adopt more open strategies and give licences for higher apartment blocks in different parts of the country. When the units are available, the situation will ease.”

The CMC has previously called for taller apartment buildings to be built in particularly congested parts of the Doha, such as around C-Ring Road, New Salata and in Al Rayyan.

Muhammad Kamran Qureshi/Flickr

Photo for illustrative purposes only.

However the Ministry of Municipality and Urban Planning (MMUP/Baladiya) had rejected these proposals, on the basis that existing public services and utilities in these areas were not designed to cope with such a load.

While higher-rise apartment buildings do exist in some areas such as West Bay and the Pearl-Qatar, these are in luxury blocks where rent levels would be well beyond what residents on a limited income could afford.

The problem does not appear to be going away anytime soon. As Qatar’s population continues to grow, a report published last month by real estate firm DTZ said that demand for affordable housing in Qatar would remain high throughout this year.

While developers focus on building new high-end units, they are constructing an inadequate number of affordable homes to keep pace with demand. DTZ highlighted family accommodations – namely four and five-bedroom villas – as being particularly in short supply.

Qatar’s commitment

Meanwhile, earlier this week, Qatar outlined its commitment to providing “adequate housing” as a basic right of all its residents at a UN Human Rights Council session in Geneva.

Addressing the session, Noemi Mohamed al-Hajri of Qatar’s Foreign Ministry’s Human Rights Department said that the state is working to provide adequate and decent housing for all nationals and expats.

Enshrined in Ministerial decision No. 18 of 2014 is the commitment to providing decent housing for expatriate workers in accordance with internationally recognized standards, Gulf Times quoted al-Hajri as saying.

Peter Kovessy

Photo for illustrative purposes only.

Qatar faces a housing crisis, particularly in the affordable sector, as it increases its population to meet the looming deadlines of its many infrastructure projects.

Residential rental costs continue to rise, with recent figures from the Ministry of Development, Planning and Statistics showing increases of more than 7 percent year-on-year.

The CMC’s latest calls echoes concerns previously voiced by its members about the issue of housing shortages and high rents.

Last summer, councillor Mishal Al Dahnim called for the government to introduce a cap on rent increases, permitting them to to up by a maximum of 10 percent every two years.

“Rents should not be left to supply and demand. Supply is much less compared to demand and will lead to an unprecedented crisis … There must be a law to control rents,” he said.

Meanwhile, in recent years authorities have been working to create workers’ residential zones in Qatar, relocating male workers living without their families out of established residential areas.

In 2011-12, authorities issued a ban on laborers – often dubbed “bachelors,” even though many are actually married – in established residential areas in Doha, but the directive was implemented without building enough alternative accommodation.

The move came after several Qatari families complained about “lack of respect from expatriate bachelors for local values and traditions and menaces to the Qatari way of life.”

Thoughts?

(The post CMC officials: Qatar needs more affordable high-rise accommodations is from Doha News.)

The Doha Players/Facebook

Macbeth rehearsal

From soaking up some Shakespeare to chuckling at a comedy show to catching some street basketball or shopping at a spring festival, there is plenty to do around town over the next few days. Here are our picks:

Macbeth

The Doha Players will perform Shakespeare’s Macbeth from March 12 to 19 at the Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s Black Box Theater in the Education City Student Center.

The production focuses on the eponymous Macbeth, his ambition, past and dark, murderous nature. The 2.5 hour-long show will begin at 7:30pm on all days except for Saturday, March 14, when a 4:30pm matinee show will take place instead. Tickets for most days are still available. They cost QR100/person and can be bought online here.

Double exposure art

Qatar resident and artist Omar Khalifa will showcase his works at a three-day long pop-up art gallery at the W Doha Hotel.

Omar Khalifa

Double exposure art

The exhibition is free and open to the public and begins on Saturday, March 14. It is an offshoot of the “Art for Tomorrow” conference that is being hosted in Qatar this week.

Khalifa’s exhibition features several double exposure works, in which profiles of people are superimposed over various landscapes.

According to event organizer Qatar Financial Center, visitors to the gallery at the W Doha will have the opportunity to become works of art themselves, with their images superimposed onto classic Doha backgrounds. The photographer will be available from noon to 7pm on March 14, 7:30am to 7:30 pm on March 15, and 8am to 1pm on March 16. The images will be emailed to visitors.

Comedy show

The Chuckle Club, a regional touring monthly comedy club featuring famous European comedians, will be in Doha this weekend.

CleftLips/Flickr

Johnny Pemberton

The show will be held on Saturday, March 14 and and Sunday, March 15, and will include Johnny Pemberton, an actor, writer, and comedian who has been featured in numerous films, including the upcoming Ant-Man, 21 Jump Street and This is 40.

Irish comedian Andrew Ryan and MC and TV-personality Jojo Sutherland round out the club. The event will take place at the Al Maha Room at the Doha Marriott Hotel from 7pm onwards. Tickets cost QR130/person and can be bought online here. Attendees are requested to carry their Qatari ID to the venue.

Roza Hassad open day

The public is invited to check out Roza Hassad, a flower and vegetable production farm in Umm Leghab (on Dukhan road), on Saturday, March 14 from 10am to 2pm.

Chantelle D'mello

Roza Hassad

Visitors will be given guided tours of the greenhouse’s facilities, flowers and crops, and will also have the opportunity to buy fresh produce and flowers. Entry vouchers cost QR15 for adults, and QR5 for kids, and can be used toward the purchase of flowers or pesticide-free vegetables.

There will be free refreshments and flowers are up to 50 percent off during this month’s open day.

Final Qumra film screening

Timbuktu

Timbuktu

As the Doha Film Institute’s inaugural Qumra event comes to a close today, the festival has added a final screening of Timbuktu tonight, March 11 at 7pm at the Katara Drama Theater (Building 16, Katara).

Tickets to screenings cost QR35 for adults and QR25 for students. They can be bought online here or in person from 2pm onwards at the DFI Katara Drama Theater Ticket Outlet (Building 16, Katara) and the Qumra Box Office at the Katara Opera House entrance.

Street basketball tournament

Aspire Zone is hosting their fourth Aspire Jam Street Basketball Tournament on Saturday, March 14, from 3 to 8pm at the outdoor basketball courts in Aspire Park.
The tournament will showcase some of the best local street basketball players in a fast paced, 3-on-3 basketball format. The event is free and open to the public.

Spring festival

Pakistani Women's Association/Facebook

Basant Mela

The Pakistan Women’s Association (PWA) is organizing its 3rd Basant Mela, a festival celebrating the arrival of spring, at Al Wakrah Stadium on Thursday, March 12 from 5pm to midnight.

The event will feature Bollywood-themed live musical performances, stalls showcasing traditional Indian and Pakistani clothing, jewelry and food, as well as quiz contests for prizes.

A dedicated kids zone with bouncing castles, games, and arts and crafts activities has also been set up. The event is open to the public; tickets cost QR10/person and are available at the door tomorrow, or from 7 to 9pm tonight at the Al Wakrah Stadium. For more information, visit the event’s Facebook page here.

Bonus:

• Ice-skating competition: Indoor amusement park Gondolania at Villaggio Mall is hosting a ice skating competition for children of all ages this Friday, March 13, at 1pm. The event is free and open to the public, and will feature two young Qatari competitors.
• St. Patrick’s Day celebrations: Spread the Irish cheer this weekend at a six-day long celebration of all things green at the Marriott Marquis City Center Doha. The hotel is hosting an Irish themed-week in honor of St. Patrick’s Day, featuring Irish food, drinks and entertainment at the Champions Sports Bar from 5pm to 1am from March 12 to 17. Entrance costs QR60/person, and is inclusive of one house beverage.
• Tasmeem Doha: Under the theme of “3ajeeb,” which translates to strange and eccentric, Virginia Commonwealth University will finish up its five-day long biennial international design and art conference tomorrow, March 12, at the VCU-Q campus in Education City. The final day will include exhibitions, interactions, performances, pop-up markets & “all things 3ajeeb” in a free event open to the public from 3 pm onwards. For more information, a detailed schedule, and registration forms, visit the event’s website here.

What are your plans for the weekend? Thoughts?

(The post Seven things to do in Qatar this weekend (March 11-14) is from Doha News.)

Omar Chatriwala

Emiri Diwan

Qatar’s Emir has passed a new law that grants additional powers to the country’s finance ministry, giving it more control over the nation’s purse strings as part of a push to bring overspending departments in line.

Law No. 2 of 2015 is the latest move by Qatar’s leadership to rein in government expenses amid declining revenues and an infrastructure building boom that’s pushed construction costs up to the highest level in the Gulf.

QNA

Minister of Finance Ali Shareef Al Emadi

Qatar Minister of Finance Ali Shareef Al Emadi said the new measures aim to “protect public funds,” according to the country’s state news agency.

“The law would boost the efficiency of public spending by tracking income and expenses accurately and continuously,” the minister said.

While Al Emadi did not provide specifics, QNA states that the new law is also aimed at giving the finance department more flexibility to deal with “economic and financial developments” as well as setting “clear boundaries” between government departments.

The finance minister’s remarks echo comments made by Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to the Shura Council in November:

“Waste, extravagance, mishandling of state funds, lack of respect for the budget, reliance on the availability of money to cover up mistakes are all behaviors that must be disposed of, whether oil prices are high or low.

The new legislation also extends Qatar’s 2014-15 budget to the end of December as the government prepares to move its fiscal year to Jan. 1. The budget has historically ended March 31, but starting in 2016 will mirror businesses and international financial organizations that follow the calendar year.

Better control

The Qatar government has routinely overspent its budget in recent years, but still managed to turn a surplus by making conservative assumptions on the amount of revenue it will collect from energy exports.

Omar Chatriwala

Photo for illustrative purposes only.

However, the dramatic drop in the price of oil – which is correlated to the price of natural gas – has eroded government revenues across the Gulf and prompted some economists to predict that Qatar will run its first budget deficit in more than a decade this year.

While Qatar’s vast financial reserves likely mean it can easily cover a financial shortfall for several years, the expected milestone is prompting some to take a closer look at how the country’s finances are measured.

Speaking to Doha News, a locally-based economist who asked not to be named said:

“In the past, there’s been a lack of oversight (of government) spending. This is part of a general push by the Emir to have better control over public spending across the government and make sure that decisions are made through (the) Ministry of Finance.”

The impact of the new law, and how the finance ministry would exercise its new powers, remains to be seen, particularly in the absence of new detailed spending plans for the coming year.

For his part, Al Emadi said the government would “continue its support” of projects and investments that are already planned and scheduled.

Ashghal

Rendering for Sharq Crossing

That said, Qatar has reportedly canceled or postponed a raft of non-essential projects over the last year, including the Sharq Crossing in Doha Bay.

Additionally, authorities have in the past year cut the operating budgets of several government-funded institutions, including Qatar Foundation and Qatar Museums.

None of the reductions have been officially communicated by the government. However, Al Emadi said the new law would “ensure transparency and accountability in the handling of public money.”

While it’s not clear what that will entail, the economist who spoke to Doha News said he is expecting to see the finance ministry release more detailed information about spending trends in the months ahead.

Thoughts?

(The post Qatar’s finance ministry granted more power to ‘protect public funds’ is from Doha News.)