Legal system and punishment

Sharia is a main source of Qatari legislation according to Qatar's constitution.[3][4] Sharia is applied to
laws pertaining to family law, inheritance, and several criminal acts (including adultery, robbery and
murder). In some cases in Sharia-based family courts, a woman's testimony is worth half a man's
and in some cases a female and male testimony is not accepted at all if the witness is not deemed
reliable.[5] Codified family law was introduced in 2006. In practice, Qatar's legal system is a mixture
of civil law and Islamic law.[6][7]
The Qatar delegation to the UNHCR claimed that flogging sentences are not given in Qatar,[8] though
Amnesty International reports unnamed "foreign nationals" being given flogging sentences as a
punishment for alcohol consumption or illicit sexual relations.[9][10] The US Department of State
reported that in 2019 there were 375 cases of flogging as a punishment.[11] In April 2013, a Muslim
expatriate was sentenced to 40 lashes for alcohol consumption.[12][13][14] In June 2014, a Muslim
expatriate was sentenced to 40 lashes for consuming alcohol and driving under the
influence.[15] Judicial corporal punishment is common in Qatar due to the Hanbali interpretation of
Sharia.[citation needed]
Stoning is no longer a legal punishment in Qatar, and has never been used.[8][16][17] Apostasy is a
crime punishable by the death penalty in Qatar.[18] Blasphemy is punishable by up to seven years in
prison and proselytizing any religion other than Islam can be punished by up to 10 years in
prison.[18] Homosexuality is a crime punishable in sharia by the death penalty for Muslims, though in
Qatar the penalty for consenting males is up to 5 years in prison.[19]
Alcohol consumption is partially legal in Qatar; some five-star luxury hotels are allowed to sell
alcohol to their non-Muslim customers.[20][21] Muslims are not allowed to consume alcohol in Qatar,
and Muslims caught consuming alcohol are liable to flogging or deportation. Non-Muslim expatriates
can obtain a permit to purchase alcohol for personal consumption. The Qatar Distribution Company
(a subsidiary of Qatar Airways) is permitted to import alcohol and pork; it operates the one and only
liquor store in the country, which also sells pork to holders of liquor licences.[22] Qatari officials have
also indicated a willingness to allow alcohol in "fan zones" at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.[23]
Up until December 2011, restaurants on the Pearl-Qatar (a man-made island near Doha) were
allowed to serve alcoholic drinks,[20][21] but they were then told to stop selling alcohol.[20][24] No
explanation was given for the ban.[20][21] Speculation about the reason includes the government's
desire to project a more pious image in advance of the country's first election of a royal advisory
body, and rumours of a financial dispute between the government and the resort's developers.[24]
In 2014, Qatar launched a modesty campaign to remind tourists of the modest dress code.[25] Female
tourists are advised not to wear leggings, miniskirts, sleeveless dresses and short or tight clothing in
public. Men are advised against wearing only shorts and singlets.[26]
As of 2014, certain provisions of the Qatari Criminal Code allows punishments such
as flogging and stoning to be imposed as criminal sanctions. The UN Committee Against
Torture found that these practices constituted a breach of the obligations imposed by the UN
Convention Against Torture.[27][28] Qatar retains the death penalty, mainly for threats against national
security.