Qatar

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Qatar is an oil-rich nation on the northeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It has been ruled by an absolute monarch (the Emir) since its independence in 1971.¹”A Guide to the United States’ History of Recognition, Diplomatic, and Consular Relations, by Country, since 1776: Qatar”, Office of the Historian, US Department of State, https://history.state.gov/countries/qatar The Emir holds all executive and legislative powers. Qatar’s population is approximately 2.4 million, only 12% of which are citizens of Qatar. Sunni-Islam is the majority religion amongst citizens, with a small Shia community. Estimates indicate that less than half of the total population is Muslim. The biggest groups amongst non-citizens are Hindus, Roman Catholics, and Buddhists.²”Qatar” chapter in 2022 Report on International Religious Freedom, Office on International Religious Freedom, US Department of State, https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-report-on-international-religious-freedom/qatar

The exploitation of large oil and gas fields since the 1940s helped Qatar become one of the richest countries in the region. The human rights climate remains very concerning. Qatar has had some uneasy relationships with many of its neighbors over regional conflicts of interest.

The state is secular, with separation of religious and political authorities, not discriminating against any religion or belief

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Countries: Belgium, Brazil, Central African Republic, Congo, Republic of the, Ecuador, Estonia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Japan, Kenya, Kosovo, Mongolia, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, São Tomé and Príncipe, Slovenia, South Africa, South Sudan, Suriname, Taiwan, Ukraine

Insufficient information or detail not included in this report

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Countries: Kazakhstan

Religious or ideological instruction is mandatory in all or most state-funded schools with no secular or humanist alternative

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Countries: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Croatia, Egypt, Eswatini, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Kenya, Lebanon, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania, Morocco, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

No formal discrimination in education

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Countries: Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Austria, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Congo, Republic of the, Czech Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Iceland, India, Japan, Korea, Republic of, Kyrgyzstan, Madagascar, Mali, Mongolia, Montenegro, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Russia, São Tomé and Príncipe, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Sweden, Taiwan, Timor-Leste (East Timor), United States of America, Uruguay

Insufficient information or detail not included in this report

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Countries: Angola, Azerbaijan, Côte d'Ivoire, South Sudan, Tuvalu

Religious courts or tribunals rule directly on some family or ‘moral’ matters; it is legally an opt-in system, but the possibility of social coercion is very clear

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Countries: Comoros, Ethiopia, Gambia, Jamaica, Kenya, Lebanon, Niger, Philippines, Senegal, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom

No religious tribunals of concern, secular groups operate freely, individuals are not persecuted by the state

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Countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Canada, Chile, Congo, Republic of the, Czech Republic, Dominica, Ecuador, Estonia, France, Ghana, Guatemala, Iceland, Japan, Korea, Republic of, Kosovo, Latvia, Luxembourg, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, São Tomé and Príncipe, Slovenia, Sweden, Taiwan, Uruguay, Venezuela

Insufficient information or detail not included in this report

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Countries: Côte d'Ivoire, Honduras, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, South Africa, South Sudan

No fundamental restrictions on freedom of expression or advocacy of humanist values

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Countries: Bahamas, Belgium, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Iceland, Jamaica, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Romania, Slovenia, Sweden, United States of America

Insufficient information or detail not included in this report

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Countries: no countries relate to this boundary condition

No condition holds in this strand

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Countries: Azerbaijan, Lesotho, Uzbekistan

No condition holds in this strand

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Countries: Andorra

No condition holds in this strand

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Countries: Cyprus, Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Laos, Lesotho

No condition holds in this strand

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Countries: no countries relate to this boundary condition

Localised or infrequent but recurring and widespread social marginalisation or prejudice against the non-religious

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This condition is unusual in that it is applied in cases where there is some social discrimination, but it is not pervasive or nationwide. This condition is applied when there is sufficient background evidence to warrant the assertion that discrimination is not anomalous but widespread, and this condition may be applied for example even where if there is no legislative discrimination or where the non-religious may have legal recourse against such discrimination. However, societal discrimination (i.e. discrimination by peers, as opposed to state or legal discrimination) is not easily measured, and for this reason the Report does not currently have similar more severe boundary conditions to capture higher levels of social discrimination per se. In principle these may be introduced in future. However, we consider that countries with actual higher levels of social discrimination against the non-religious will generally already meet other higher level (more severe) boundary conditions under this thematic strand.

Countries: Albania, Botswana, Greece, Serbia, United States of America

The dominant influence of religion in public life undermines the right to equality and/or non-discrimination

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Applied when the influence of religion on public life undermines others’ rights, such as SRHR, women’s rights, LGBTI+ rights.

May be applied when the influence is overt (i.e. when religious laws are applied to undermine others’ rights) or covert (i.e. where religious pressure groups exert influence to affect policy)

Countries: Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Brunei Darussalam, Burundi, Chile, Congo, Democratic Republic of, Croatia, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Eritrea, Eswatini, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Hungary, Iran, Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, Liberia, Lithuania, Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Oman, Paraguay, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Timor-Leste (East Timor), Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine, Zambia

Use of Conscientious Objection clauses resulting in the denial of lawful services to women and LGBTI+ people

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Countries: Armenia, Chile, Croatia, Italy, Portugal, Romania, Uruguay

Complete tyranny precludes all freedoms of expression and thought, religion or belief

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Applied when overriding acts of oppression by the State are extreme, to the extent that the question of freedom of thought and expression is almost redundant, because all human rights and freedoms are quashed by authorities.

Countries: Afghanistan, North Korea

The non-religious are barred from some government offices (including posts reserved for particular religions or sects)

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Countries: Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Comoros, Eritrea, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Myanmar (Burma), Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Syria, Thailand, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen

There is systematic religious privilege

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Countries: Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Bahrain, Belize, Botswana, Brazil, Cambodia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Latvia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Madagascar, Malta, Moldova, Nepal, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste (East Timor), Togo, Tunisia, United Kingdom, Zambia, Zimbabwe

There is a nominal state church with few privileges or progress is being made toward disestablishment

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Countries: Bulgaria, Norway, Peru, Rwanda

Religious or ideological indoctrination is utterly pervasive in schools

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Countries: Afghanistan, Congo, Democratic Republic of, North Korea, Saudi Arabia

There is state funding of at least some religious schools

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Countries: Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Comoros, Costa Rica, Croatia, Denmark, Dominica, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Fiji, Finland, Germany, Ghana, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Jamaica, Kosovo, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Morocco, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Switzerland, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, United Kingdom, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Yemen, Zimbabwe

State-funded schools offer religious or ideological instruction with no secular or humanist alternative, but it is optional

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Countries: Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, Gambia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Italy, Kiribati, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Monaco, New Zealand, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, Spain, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom, Vanuatu, Venezuela

Expression of non-religious views is severely persecuted, or is rendered almost impossible by severe social stigma, or is highly likely to be met with hatred or violence

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Countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Iran, Pakistan, Yemen

The non-religious are persecuted socially or there are prohibitive social taboos against atheism, humanism or secularism

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Countries: Algeria, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Malaysia, Maldives, Nigeria, Oman, Rwanda, Sri Lanka, Turkey

There is significant social marginalisation of the non-religious or stigma associated with expressing atheism, humanism or secularism

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Countries: Bangladesh, Barbados, Colombia, Egypt, Georgia, Ghana, Guyana, Iraq, Malaysia, Poland, Samoa, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Uganda

Expression of core Humanist principles on democracy, freedom and human rights is brutally repressed

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Countries: Afghanistan, Bahrain, Brunei Darussalam, Chad, China, Eritrea, Iran, Kuwait, Mauritania, North Korea, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, United Arab Emirates, Yemen

Expression of core humanist principles on democracy, freedom or human rights is severely restricted

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Countries: Algeria, Angola, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Brazil, Burundi, Central African Republic, Congo, Democratic Republic of, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Laos, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Morocco, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Philippines, Russia, Rwanda, Samoa, Somalia, Sudan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Expression of core humanist principles on democracy, freedom or human rights is somewhat restricted

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Countries: Andorra, Armenia, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Congo, Republic of the, Côte d'Ivoire, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Israel, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar (Burma), Niger, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda

Some concerns about political or media freedoms, not specific to the non-religious

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Countries: Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Denmark, Dominica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, France, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Greece, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, India, Ireland, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Korea, Republic of, Kosovo, Kuwait, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste (East Timor), Tonga, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Viet Nam, Zambia

Religious authorities have supreme authority over the state

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Countries: Iran

State legislation is partly derived from religious law or by religious authorities

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Countries: Algeria, Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Comoros, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, Malaysia, Morocco, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates

Preferential treatment is given to a religion or religion in general

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This condition is applied where there are miscellaneous indicators that organs of the state offer various forms of support for a religion, or to religion in general over non-religious worldviews, suggesting a preference for those beliefs, or that the organs of that religion are privileged.

Countries: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Burundi, Canada, Cape Verde, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Finland, Germany, Ghana, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Montenegro, Mozambique, Nepal, New Zealand, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Oman, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Rwanda, San Marino, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Timor-Leste (East Timor), Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, United Kingdom, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Zimbabwe

Official symbolic deference to religion

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Countries: Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Democratic Republic of, Croatia, Cyprus, Djibouti, Dominica, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Finland, Germany, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Kiribati, Korea, Republic of, Laos, Latvia, Liberia, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia, Singapore, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States of America, Vanuatu, Zimbabwe

Religious or ideological instruction in a significant number of schools is of a coercive fundamentalist or extremist variety

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This condition highlights countries where schools subject children to fundamentalist religious instruction with no real opportunity to question fundamentalist tenets, or where lessons routinely encourage hatred (for example religious or ethnic hatred). The wording “significant number of schools” is not given a rigid quantification (sometimes the worst-offending schools are unregistered, illegal, or otherwise uncounted); however the condition is not applied in cases where only a small number of schools meet the description and may be anomalous, as opposed to being indicative of a widespread problem.

Countries: Bangladesh, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia

Religious schools have powers to discriminate in admissions or employment

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Countries: Argentina, Armenia, Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Equatorial Guinea, Finland, Germany, Haiti, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Jamaica, Lebanon, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Morocco, Myanmar (Burma), Sri Lanka, Uganda, United Kingdom, Zimbabwe

State-funded schools provide religious education which may be nominally comprehensive but is substantively biased or borderline confessional

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Countries: Djibouti, Finland, India, Laos, Latvia, Norway, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sierra Leone, Ukraine

There is a pattern of impunity or collusion in violence by non-state actors against the nonreligious

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Countries: Bangladesh, Egypt, Mauritania, Pakistan

Systemic religious privilege results in significant social discrimination

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Countries: Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ghana, Guinea, Guyana, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, Oman, Palestine, Paraguay, Qatar, Russia, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Thailand, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Zimbabwe

Some religious courts rule in civil or family matters on a coercive or discriminatory basis

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Countries: Bangladesh, Comoros, Egypt, Haiti, Jamaica, Malaysia, Nigeria, Palestine, Philippines, Singapore, Turkey

‘Apostasy’ or conversion from a specific religion is outlawed and punishable by death

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Countries: Afghanistan, Brunei Darussalam, Iran, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Yemen

‘Apostasy’ is outlawed and punishable with a prison sentence

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Countries: Bahrain, Comoros, Jordan, Kuwait

Blasphemy or criticism of religion is restricted in law and is punishable by a fine

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Countries: Australia, Austria, Barbados, Brazil, Cambodia, Finland, Italy, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Moldova, Montenegro, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Saint Lucia, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Kingdom

Concerns that secular or religious authorities interfere in specifically religious freedoms

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Countries: Angola, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cameroon, China, Congo, Republic of the, Denmark, Ethiopia, Germany, Ghana, Haiti, Hungary, Italy, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Nepal, North Korea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Serbia, Singapore, Tajikistan, Tonga, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam

State legislation is largely or entirely derived from religious law or by religious authorities

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Countries: Afghanistan, Bahrain, Brunei Darussalam, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Maldives, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, United Arab Emirates, Yemen

There is an established church or state religion

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Countries: Algeria, Argentina, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Costa Rica, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Finland, Georgia, Haiti, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritania, Monaco, Morocco, Myanmar (Burma), Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Tuvalu, United Kingdom, Yemen, Zambia

Anomalous discrimination by local or provincial authorities, or overseas territories

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Countries: Cameroon, Dominica, Ethiopia, France, Ghana, Guinea, India, Jamaica, Malawi, Malaysia, Mexico, Micronesia, Mongolia, Niger, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Rwanda, Switzerland, Thailand, Tonga, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States of America

Religious or ideological instruction is mandatory in at least some public schools (without secular or humanist alternatives)

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Countries: Argentina, Armenia, Belize, Cambodia, Chad, China, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Georgia, Germany, Guinea, Haiti, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Jamaica, Jordan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Lesotho, Libya, Malawi, Malaysia, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Palestine, Peru, Philippines, Samoa, Switzerland, Thailand, Uganda, United Kingdom

Government figures or state agencies openly marginalize, harass, or incite hatred or violence against the non-religious

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Countries: Afghanistan, Egypt, Hungary, Iran, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania, Morocco, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan

Government authorities push a socially conservative, religiously or ideologically inspired agenda, without regard to the rights of those with progressive views

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Countries: Afghanistan, Algeria, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burundi, China, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Estonia, Grenada, Hungary, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Kyrgyzstan, Madagascar, Malaysia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Russia, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Slovakia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Vanuatu, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zimbabwe

Discriminatory prominence is given to religious bodies, traditions or leaders

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Countries: Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Bahamas, Bahrain, Benin, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Denmark, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Finland, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Haiti, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kiribati, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Micronesia, Moldova, Morocco, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Qatar, Romania, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste (East Timor), Tonga, Tunisia, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States of America, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

‘Blasphemy’ or criticism of religion is outlawed and punishable by death

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Countries: Afghanistan, Brunei Darussalam, Iran, Mauritania, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia

‘Blasphemy’ is outlawed or criticism of religion (including de facto ‘blasphemy’ laws) is restricted and punishable with a prison sentence

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Countries: Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Comoros, Cyprus, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Finland, Gambia, Germany, Grenada, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Morocco, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, Oman, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, São Tomé and Príncipe, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Vanuatu, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Quasi-divine veneration of a ruling elite is enforced, or a single-party regime holds uncontested power, subject to severe punishment

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Countries: Brunei Darussalam, China, Cuba, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Viet Nam

Legal or constitutional provisions exclude non-religious views from freedom of belief

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Countries: Argentina, Burundi, Canada, Eritrea, Haiti, Jordan, Madagascar, Malaysia, Morocco, Oman, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Sri Lanka, Tonga

It is illegal to register an explicitly Humanist, atheist, secularist or other non-religious NGO or other human rights organization, or such groups are persecuted by authorities

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Countries: Afghanistan, Brunei Darussalam, Burundi, China, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Kuwait, Maldives, Morocco, North Korea, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, United Arab Emirates, Yemen

Prohibitive interreligious social control (including interreligious marriage bans)

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Countries: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel, Libya, Maldives, Mauritania, Morocco, Myanmar (Burma), Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen

Religious groups control some public or social services

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Countries: Algeria, Argentina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Denmark, Germany, Haiti, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Rwanda, Solomon Islands, Switzerland, Tunisia, United Kingdom, Vanuatu

It is illegal to advocate secularism or church-state separation, or such advocacy is suppressed

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Countries: Afghanistan, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Indonesia, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Maldives, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, United Arab Emirates, Yemen

The non-religious are barred from holding government office

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Countries: Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Iran, Maldives, Mauritania, Pakistan, Rwanda, Somalia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen

There is a religious tax or tithing which is compulsory, or which is state-administered and discriminates by precluding non-religious groups

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Countries: Argentina, Austria, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ghana, Haiti, Hungary, Italy, Pakistan, Peru, Rwanda, Samoa, Sweden, Switzerland

Religious control over family law or legislation on moral matters

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Countries: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania, Morocco, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen

It is illegal or unrecognised to identify as an atheist or as non-religious

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Countries: Comoros, Egypt, Eritrea, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Malaysia, Maldives, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, United Arab Emirates

Some concerns about children's right to specifically religious freedom

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This condition may apply if specifically religious education, religious materials, or specific religious denominations are so tightly controlled that children are in fact over-protected from exposure to religion and are likely unable to explore or construct their own worldview in accordance with their evolving capacities. This condition helps us to classify states (perhaps with secular constitutions) which have criminalized specifically religious beliefs or practices. This condition is not applied if the restricted beliefs or practices are found to be outlawed due to their being of an extremist variety. While this condition does not directly reflect discrimination against non-religious persons or non-religious ideas, it does represent an overall threat to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief; such restrictions could spill over to affect non-religious beliefs later; and they pose a risk of backlash against over-zealous secular authorities or even against non-religious individuals by association.

Countries: China, Congo, Democratic Republic of, Cuba, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guinea, Guyana, Italy, Kazakhstan, Laos, Madagascar, Mexico, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Tajikistan, Togo, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam, Zimbabwe

State-funding of religious institutions or salaries, or discriminatory tax exemptions

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Countries: Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bhutan, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Eswatini, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guinea, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, Korea, Republic of, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Montenegro, Myanmar (Burma), Namibia, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Suriname, Switzerland, Thailand, Timor-Leste (East Timor), Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Yemen, Zimbabwe

It is made difficult to register or operate an explicitly Humanist, atheist, secularist or other non-religious NGO or other human rights organization

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Countries: Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Comoros, Congo, Democratic Republic of, Egypt, Eritrea, Malaysia, Mauritania, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, Senegal, Somalia, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan

Constitution and government

Islam is the state religion of Qatar, and sharia is designated as the main source for legislation. Only Islam, Christianity, and Judaism are officially recognized, and non-Muslim groups are required to register to operate. At least 1,500 members are required for a group to be eligible to register.³”Qatar” chapter in 2020 Report on International Religious Freedom, Office on International Religious Freedom, US Department of State, https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/qatar/

Whilst Qatar’s Constitution⁴Constitution of the State of Qatar, Government Communications Office, https://www.gco.gov.qa/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/GCO-Constitution-English.pdf and other laws provide for freedom of association, public assembly, and worship, these freedoms are framed within limits based on sharia law and “morality concerns.”

Legal, cultural, and institutional discrimination against, women and girls, LGBTI+ people, non-Qatari nationals, certain local tribes, and other minorities is prevalent.⁵”Qatar” chapter in 2022 Report on International Religious Freedom, Office on International Religious Freedom, US Department of State, https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-report-on-international-religious-freedom/qatar; Riham Sheble and Shabina S. Khatri, “Four things to know about flogging as a punishment in Qatar”, Doha News, 17 June 2016, https://www.dohanews.co/four-things-to-know-about-flogging-as-a-punishment-in-qatar/

The government does not permit the formation of political parties. Restrictions on workers unionizing are in place. Only the General Union of Workers of Qatar is allowed to operate, non-citizens are entirely restricted from unionizing, as are government employees and household workers.⁶”Qatar” chapter in Freedom in the World 2023, Freedom house, https://freedomhouse.org/country/qatar/freedom-world/2023

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) require government approval to function, and their activities are routinely monitored. Independent activists are vulnerable to State harassment.⁷”Qatar” chapter in Freedom in the World 2023, Freedom house, https://freedomhouse.org/country/qatar/freedom-world/2023; See also “The State of Qatar – Submission to the UN Universal Periodic Review,” 19th Session of the UPR Working Group, by Submission by CIVICUS and Gulf Center for Human Rights (GCHR):https://www.gc4hr.org/report/view/87 One example is Najeeb al-Nuaimi, a human rights lawyer who has been subject to a travel ban since 2017.⁸”Qatar” chapter in Freedom in the World 2023, Freedom house, https://freedomhouse.org/country/qatar/freedom-world/2023

Judicial system

The Judiciary is not considered independent by Freedom House; many judges are foreign nationals on annual contracts. The Emir ultimately appoints the judges.⁹”Qatar” chapter in Freedom in the World 2023, Freedom house, https://freedomhouse.org/country/qatar/freedom-world/2023

Qatar’s judicial system is based on both secular and sharia laws, depending on the type of crime committed. Secular law covers issues relating to finance for instance, whilst sharia is generally applied to laws pertaining to family law, inheritance, and several criminal acts,¹⁰Riham Sheble and Shabina S. Khatri, “Four things to know about flogging as a punishment in Qatar”, Doha News, 17 June 2016, https://www.dohanews.co/four-things-to-know-about-flogging-as-a-punishment-in-qatar/ and mainly applies to the Muslim population.¹¹Riham Sheble and Shabina S. Khatri, “Four things to know about flogging as a punishment in Qatar”, Doha News, 17 June 2016, https://www.dohanews.co/four-things-to-know-about-flogging-as-a-punishment-in-qatar/ Shia interpretation of sharia can be implemented upon request of the involved parties.¹²”Qatar” chapter in 2020 Report on International Religious Freedom, Office on International Religious Freedom, US Department of State, https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/qatar/

The government often commutes the harsher punishments mandated by sharia.¹³”Qatar” chapter in 2020 Report on International Religious Freedom, Office on International Religious Freedom, US Department of State, https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/qatar/; Riham Sheble and Shabina S. Khatri, “Four things to know about flogging as a punishment in Qatar”, Doha News, 17 June 2016, https://www.dohanews.co/four-things-to-know-about-flogging-as-a-punishment-in-qatar/ Charges for crimes such as alcohol consumption or extramarital sex, carry sharia punishments that in some cases call for flogging. The death penalty is permitted, but no executions have been carried out since 2003.¹⁴”Qatar” chapter in 2020 Report on International Religious Freedom, Office on International Religious Freedom, US Department of State, https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/qatar/ Muslims who have been convicted of a crime may be allowed to have their sentence reduced by a few months if they can learn the Quran by heart whilst in prison.¹⁵”New controls for pardoning those who have memorized the Qur’an in prisons”, Al-marsd, https://al-marsd.com/%D8%B6%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%B7-%D8%AC%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%AF%D8%A9-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%B9%D9%81%D9%88-%D8%B9%D9%86-%D8%AD%D9%81%D8%B8%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D8%B1%D8%A2%D9%86-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3/

Law enforcement is involved in issues related to morality and religious obedience, such as sexual relationships between consenting partners and the ability to eat and drink during Ramadan.

Article 267 of the 2004 Penal Code states that, anyone who eats or drinks in public during the daytime in Ramadan can be punished with up to three months in prison or be given a fine of 3,000 Qatari Riyals (820 USD).¹⁶”Crimes Related to Religions and the Violability of the Dead”, Law No. 11 of 2004 Issuing the Penal Code, Ministry of Justice, https://www.almeezan.qa/LawArticles.aspx?LawTreeSectionID=249&LawID=26&language=en Restaurants outside of hotels are not allowed to open during the daytime in Ramadan.¹⁷”Qatar” chapter in 2020 Report on International Religious Freedom, Office on International Religious Freedom, US Department of State, https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/qatar/

Article 281 of the Penal Code criminalizes consensual sex outside marriage with sentences of up to seven years in prison. Article 285 can be understood to criminalize same-sex sexual acts.¹⁸”Adultery and Crimes of Honour”, Law no. 11 of 2004 Issuing the Penal Code, Ministry of Justice, https://www.almeezan.qa/LawArticles.aspx?LawTreeSectionID=255&lawId=26&language=en

Status of religious groups

Very few religious groups are currently officially registered in Qatar; the only registered groups at the time of writing are Sunni-Islam, Shia-Islam, and eight Christian denominations. Unregistered religious and belief groups are restricted from operating, and cannot open bank accounts, solicit funds, worship in private spaces legally, hire staff, apply for property to build places to worship, import religious texts, or publish religious newsletters or flyers.¹⁹”Qatar” chapter in 2022 Report on International Religious Freedom, Office on International Religious Freedom, US Department of State, https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-report-on-international-religious-freedom/qatar

Non-Islamic houses of worship must be approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in coordination with the private office of the Emir. Displaying religious symbols, worshiping in public, and advertising religious services are not allowed for non-Muslims.²⁰”Qatar” chapter in 2022 Report on International Religious Freedom, Office on International Religious Freedom, US Department of State, https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-report-on-international-religious-freedom/qatar

The government regulates the import and distribution of religious publications. Any import of religious or belief materials requires approval from the Ministry of Culture and Sports first.²¹”Qatar” chapter in 2022 Report on International Religious Freedom, Office on International Religious Freedom, US Department of State, https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-report-on-international-religious-freedom/qatar/

Individuals have reported practicing self-censorship on religious topics. Proselytizing is criminalized for non-Muslims, carrying a punishment of up to 10 years in prison. However, the government’s response to such proselytization is usually deportation rather than legal action. Possession of written or recorded missionary materials can lead to two years’ imprisonment and a fine of 10,000 riyals (2,700 USD).²²”Qatar” chapter in 2022 Report on International Religious Freedom, Office on International Religious Freedom, US Department of State, https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-report-on-international-religious-freedom/qatar

Recent reports have suggested that some deportations and denial of renewed residency permits for long-term residents have been linked to the religious activities of those residents.²³”Qatar” chapter in 2022 Report on International Religious Freedom, Office on International Religious Freedom, US Department of State, https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-report-on-international-religious-freedom/qatar

State Control of Religious Narrative

Qatar has strict control over the religious narrative in the country. The Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs (MEIA) controls mosques, provides spokespersons for media appearances, and heavily invests in online presence. Qatar fosters high-profile political Islamists and funds Islamic projects around the world.

All mosques and Islamic institutions in the country must be registered with the MEIA, who assigns imams to the mosques and provides them with thematic guidelines for Friday prayer. The sermon speech focuses mainly on Islamic rituals and social values, with restrictions on political topics. The government can take legal action against those who deviate from the guidance.²⁴”Qatar” chapter in 2022 Report on International Religious Freedom, Office on International Religious Freedom, US Department of State, https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-report-on-international-religious-freedom/qatar

Education and children’s rights

All schools have compulsory Islamic instruction, and non-Islamic religious education is prohibited. In 2019, private schools were mandated to teach Islamic studies and the Arabic language, starting from pre-school. Qatari history was made the third compulsory subject in schools.²⁵”Qatar” chapter in 2022 Report on International Religious Freedom, Office on International Religious Freedom, US Department of State, https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-report-on-international-religious-freedom/qatar

According to the Ministry of Education, “Non-Muslim students should be introduced to the Islamic religion, values and ethics through awareness embedded in other subjects (i.e. Qatar History) and school activities.”²⁶https://www.edu.gov.qa/en/MediaCenter/Pages/MediaCenter/NewsDetails.aspx?itemid=302

In a report looking at the school curriculum between 2021 and 2022, the Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education (IMPACT-se) observed:

“IMPACT-se’s latest review of the Qatari curriculum evaluates changes made in fall and spring semester textbooks for 2021-22. IMPACT-se’s August 2020 report analyzing the Qatari curriculum found problematic content, namely hate toward Jews and extremist messaging. Over the last two years, Qatar’s textbooks have slowly improved with adjustments made toward moderation, including lessons on tolerance and racial discrimination. Significant progress was observed in removing antisemitic and anti-Christian content as well as examples of violent jihad. While the curriculum still disproportionately focuses on Israel, the hostile tone is lessened. Other problematic content remains, including antisemitic material, violent interpretations of jihad, hateful material against infidels and polytheists, demonization of Israel, and rejection of Arab-Israeli normalization.”²⁷”Qatar”, IMPACT-se, https://www.impact-se.org/wp-content/uploads/Understanding-Qatari-Ambition_The-Curriculum-2016%E2%80%9320_Updated-Report.pdf

The report pointed out that the Qatar curriculum continues a trend of slow improvement by removing additional disturbing and unacceptable passages previously criticized in IMPACT-se’s reports. However,

“passages that demonize Jews, praise martyrdom, and blame holy faiths for corrupting holy texts remain. Although some changes are suggestive of positive movement, a great deal of improvement is necessary to align the curriculum with international standards of Peace and Tolerance.”

Family, community, and society

Family Law and the position of women

The unified court system applies Islamic law in family cases and has jurisdiction over both Muslims and non-Muslims. Non-Muslims have recourse to civil law for some personal status cases but cases of child custody are judged under Islamic law.

Many personal status and family laws specifically discriminate against women. The 2006 family law²⁸Law No 22 of 2006, Ministry of Justice, https://www.almeezan.qa/LawView.aspx?opt&LawID=2558&language=en discriminates against women in marriage, divorce, nationality, inheritance, and freedom of movement. For example, a woman’s testimony is worth half that of a man in certain types of cases. Inheritance laws discriminate against women: a female heir receives one-half the amount of an equivalent male heir. Women require the consent of their male guardians to get married. Only men can marry out of the Muslim faith, in which case, children are required to be Muslim. Marital rape is not a crime, although the law forbids husbands to hurt their wives physically or morally.

According to Article 69 of the family law, a married woman is not entitled to marital support if she is considered “disobedient,” i.e. if she:

“(1) If she refuses to surrender herself to the husband or to move to the marital home without legitimate reason. (2) If she leaves her marital home without legitimate reason. (3) If she prevents the husband from entering into the marital home without legitimate reason. (4) If she refuses to travel with her husband when moving to another dwelling without legitimate excuse or if she travels without his permission. (5) If she works outside the home without the permission of her husband, unless he is abusing his right in preventing her from working.”

Violence against women

The Protection and Social Rehabilitation Center shelter reported receiving 277 cases of physical violence against women and children and 155 cases of psychological violence in 2019.²⁹”Qatar” chapter in 2020 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, US Department of State, 30 March 2021, https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/qatar/

On 6 May 2020 during an interview on the Al Jazeera network, Dr. Ahmad al-Farjabi, a sharia expert of the ministry of Islamic affairs, stated that when a man suspects his wife might become “disobedient” and “rebellious,” he should take the measures prescribed by the Quran, which include beating her. Al-Farjabi added that even Western psychologists have said that wife-beating is “inevitable” in the case of women who had been beaten while they were growing up and for women who have no respect for their husbands. He affirmed that “these kinds of women must be subdued by muscles,” and that “some kinds of women may be reformed by beating.” Al-Farjabi also indicated that women at his lectures asserted that it is preferable to beat one’s wife than to allow her to ruin the home and lose her children.³⁰”Wife-Beating Guidance By Qatari Official Dr. Ahmad Al-Farjabi On Al-Jazeera TV: Some Women Must Be Subdued By Muscles; Women Almost Unanimously Agree That Beating Is Better Than Letting The Wives Ruin Their Families”, Memri, 18 May 2020,  https://www.memri.org/reports/wife-beating-guidance-qatari-official-dr-ahmad-al-farjabi-al-jazeera-tv-some-women-must-be

Incitement of hatred and violence against minorities and belief groups

On 16 May 2020, Al Jazeera interview, Dr. Abdul-Jabbar Saeed, a department chair in the sharia faculty at the state-run Qatar University, cited a hadith in which the Prophet Muhammad said that Judgment Day will not come until the Muslims fight the Jews, who will hide behind rocks and trees, which will in turn call upon Muslims to kill the Jews hiding behind them. Saeed said that victory would only be achieved through sacrifice of all that is precious and through the “blood of the martyrs and over the skulls of the enemies.”³¹”Qatar University Professor Dr. Abduljabbar Saeed On Jazeera TV: All Rocks And Trees Will Call On The Muslims To Kill the Jews; Victory Is Achieved Over The Skulls Of The Enemies”, Memri, 16 May 2020, https://www.memri.org/tv/jazeera-tv-sharia-abduljabbar-saeed-judgement-day-jews-hide-rocks-trees-call-muslims-kill-blood-martyrs

The role of Islam Web

Islam Web is a website directly employed, funded, and managed by the government. It promotes the Salafi literalist school of Sunni-Islam, a radical interpretation of Islam considered incompatible with the promotion of co-existence. Between its establishment (by the Ministry of Islamic affairs) in 1998, and 2019 the site provided 245 thousand Fatwas (religious decrees by scholars, based on interpretations of religious text) and addressed 191 thousand inquiries on topics related to culture, family, and the youth. The website preaches in six languages: Arabic, English, French, Spanish, German, and soon Indonesian. According to official statements, the website receives two million visits every day.³²”Mal Allah Al-Jaber: Two million daily views of Islamweb”, Al-Sharq, 30 January 2021, https://al-sharq.com/article/30/01/2021/%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%84%D9%87-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%B1%D9%85%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%88%D9%86%D8%A7-%D9%85%D8%B4%D8%A7%D9%87%D8%AF%D8%A9-%D9%8A%D9%88%D9%85%D9%8A%D8%A7-%D9%84%D9%85%D9%88%D9%82%D8%B9-%D8%A5%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%85-%D9%88%D9%8A%D8%A8

Trimming beards, professionally playing football, living in the West are topics that are frowned upon or prohibited. The website also condemns congratulating Christians on Christmas calling it a “dangerous trend” that is promoted under the pretext of “coexistence of religions,”, “diversity of civilizations.”³³”Participating in Christmas and other Christian festivals – II”, Islamweb, 28 December 2016, https://www.islamweb.org/en/article/156827/

Multiple fatwas on Islam Web are clear that insulting the prophet must be punished by death, often without giving them a chance to repent.³⁴”Punishment for those who insult the Companions, may God be pleased with them”, Islamweb, https://www.islamweb.net/ar/fatwa/129741/ Fatwa NR 8520 on apostasy says that apostates from Islam are to be killed after being offered a chance to return to Islam. The fatwa uses poetically derogatory language to insult the apostates and devalue them as human beings.³⁵”Freedom of belief does not mean freedom to apostatize”, Islamweb, https://www.islamweb.net/ar/fatwa/8520/%D8%AD%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D9%82%D9%8A%D8%AF%D8%A9-%D9%84%D8%A7-%D8%AA%D8%B9%D9%86%D9%8A-%D8%AD%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%AA%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AF

Fatwa NR 469283 calls for death to LGBTI+ men based on quotes from the prophet. It states that,³⁶”Rank of Hadith: Whoever you found doing the actions of the people of Lot”, Islamweb, https://www.islamweb.net/ar/fatwa/429283/%D8%B1%D8%AA%D8%A8%D8%A9-%D8%AD%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%AB-%D9%85%D9%8E%D9%86%D9%92-%D9%88%D9%8E%D8%AC%D9%8E%D8%AF%D9%92%D8%AA%D9%8F%D9%85%D9%8F%D9%88%D9%87%D9%8F-%D9%8A%D9%8E%D8%B9%D9%92%D9%85%D9%8E%D9%84%D9%8F-%D8%B9%D9%8E%D9%85%D9%8E%D9%84%D9%8E-%D9%82%D9%8E%D9%88%D9%92%D9%85%D9%90-%D9%84%D9%8F%D9%88%D8%B7%D9%8D “the crime of sodomy is the most heinous, ugliest and dirtiest of crimes, it’s against the natural disposition.”³⁷”It kills the subject and object”, Islamweb, https://www.islamweb.net/ar/fatwa/1869/%D9%8A%D9%82%D8%AA%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%B9%D9%84-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%81%D8%B9%D9%88%D9%84-%D8%A8%D9%87

Discrimination in citizenship and systemic racism

After a visit to Qatar in 2020, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, expressed “serious concerns” about structural racial discrimination against non-nationals in the country, specifically affecting South Asian and sub-Saharan African migrants.³⁸”Report of the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of
racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related
intolerance*”, UN Human Rights Council, A/HRC/44/57/Add.1, 27 April 2020, https://undocs.org/A/HRC/44/57/Add.1

Roughly 71% of the population is comprised of low-income migrant workers. Government figures in December 2019 counted a total of 1.9 million migrant workers in Qatar, of which 1.77 million were men. The majority come from India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Philippines, Egypt and Pakistan. Labour laws in Qatar create a power imbalance and climate of fear which stops migrants from raising complaints about labor violations.³⁹Special Procedures, “End of Mission Statement of the Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, Prof. E. Tendayi Achiume, at the Conclusion of Her Mission to Qatar Doha, Qatar (1 December 2019)” Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations, 1 December 2019, https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=25374&LangID=E In February 2021, the Guardian newspaper revealed that 6500 workers died in Qatar since it won the bid for the 2022 World Cup.⁴⁰Pete Pattisson, Niamh McIntyre, et al, “Revealed: 6,500 migrant workers have died in Qatar since World Cup awarded”, The Guardian, 23 February 2021, https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/feb/23/revealed-migrant-worker-deaths-qatar-fifa-world-cup-2022

Long-term residents working and living in Qatar do not have a clear path for citizenship. The Qatari authorities are known to revoke or deny citizenship on an arbitrary and punitive basis, in doing so denying those individuals access to fundamental rights such as education, employment, housing, health care, property, and marriage.⁴¹Paragraph 56, “Report of the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of
racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related
intolerance*”, UN Human Rights Council, A/HRC/44/57/Add.1, 27 April 2020, https://undocs.org/A/HRC/44/57/Add.1

In August 2021, a new election law was introduced which divides the population into three groups. Only “original” Qataris with roots in the country stemming from around 1930 are allowed to run for elections. Qatari citizens with a grandfather born in Qatar are allowed to vote only. First or second-generation naturalized citizens cannot vote.⁴²”Dhahi Khalfan comments on the “Al Murra” tribe crisis and the Qatar elections”, CNN Arabic, 12 August 2021, https://arabic.cnn.com/middle-east/article/2021/08/12/dhahi-khalfan-qatar-elections-almurrah-tribe

Freedom of expression, advocacy of humanist values

Provisions of Qatar’s Penal Code are inconsistent with international human rights law and Qatar’s obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) – which it ratified in 2018.⁴³”Qatar: 5-Year Prison Sentence Set for ‘Fake News’”, Human Rights Watch, 22 January 2020, https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/01/22/qatar-5-year-prison-sentence-set-fake-news

According to the 2020 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices by the US State Department, the government implements a policy of reviewing, censoring, or banning newspapers, magazines, books, and films for objectionable sexual, religious, and political content. Journalists and publishers practice self-censorship regarding material the government might consider contrary to Islam.⁴⁴”Qatar” chapter in 2020 Report on International Religious Freedom, Office on International Religious Freedom, US Department of State, https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/qatar/

In June 2020, the authorities interrogated several social media users about tweets that were perceived to be critical of the government. Some signed pledges to not post similar content while others had their Twitter accounts deactivated. In April that year, a lawyer was charged with disrupting the public interest for a video he posted criticizing Central Bank policies.⁴⁵”Qatar” chapter in 2020 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, US Department of State, 30 March 2021, https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/qatar/

On 4 May 2021, Malcom Bidali, a Kenyan security guard who blogged about migrant workers’ conditions in Qatar was detained and then charged with “offenses related to payments received by a foreign agent for the creation and distribution of disinformation within the state of Qatar.”⁴⁶”‘Trumped-up charges’: Why was Malcolm Bidali arrested in Qatar?”, TRT World, https://www.trtworld.com/magazine/trumped-up-charges-why-was-malcolm-bidali-arrested-in-qatar-47250 Migrant-rights.org stated that “he was held in solitary confinement and interrogated without legal counsel for nearly four weeks.”⁴⁷Pete Pattisson, “Rights group fear for migrant activist ‘disappeared’ in Qatar”, The Guardian, 14 May 2021, https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/may/14/rights-group-fear-for-migrant-activist-detained-qatar; “‘Trumped-up charges’: Why was Malcolm Bidali arrested in Qatar?”, TRT World, https://www.trtworld.com/magazine/trumped-up-charges-why-was-malcolm-bidali-arrested-in-qatar-47250 Bidali has been released but can face up to 10 years in prison and a $4,000 fine if found guilty as charged.

Media freedom

The ruling family, and its allies, influence much of the media in Qatar and its messaging.⁴⁸”Qatar” chapter in 2021 Freedom in the World, Freedom House, https://freedomhouse.org/country/qatar/freedom-world/2021 The media is perceived to be subject to censorship.

The Al-Jazeera network is one of the biggest media outlets in the Middle East. Al-Jazeera is privately held but the government has reportedly financially supported its operations since it was established.⁴⁹”Qatar” chapter in 2021 Freedom in the World, Freedom House, https://freedomhouse.org/country/qatar/freedom-world/2021 Former Al-Jazeera employees alleged the government influences its content.⁵⁰”Qatar” chapter in 2020 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, US Department of State, 30 March 2021, https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/qatar/

According to Freedom House, “all journalists in Qatar practice a degree of self-censorship and face possible jail sentences for defamation and other press offenses.”⁵¹”Qatar” chapter in 2021 Freedom in the World, Freedom House, https://freedomhouse.org/country/qatar/freedom-world/2021 For example, in December 2020, a columnist and social media influencer Faisal Muhamad al-Marzoqi was sentenced to three months in prison, a fine, and had his Twitter account confiscated for a tweet criticizing public figures.⁵²”Qatar” chapter in 2020 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, US Department of State, 30 March 2021, https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/qatar/

Between 2016 until 2020, the independent English-language website Doha News was blocked for allegedly not having an operating permit. The outlet changed ownership in 2017 and again in 2020 before it resumed full operations. The original Doha News staff and leadership left it, arguing that it had been stripped of its independence by the government.⁵³”Ex-editor of Doha News speaks out on Qatar ‘suppressing independent voices’”, Al Arabiya, updated 20 May 2020, https://english.alarabiya.net/media/digital/2017/11/04/Doha-News-ex-editor-speaks-out-on-Qatar-suppressing-independent-voices-

Articles by Doha news had covered topics not picked-up by state-affiliated media, These include “What it’s like to be gay and Qatari”⁵⁴Majid Al-Qatari, “What it’s like to be gay and Qatari”, Doha News, 5 August 2016, https://www.dohanews.co/what-its-like-to-be-gay-and-qatari/  and an article written by a Qatari citizen who was denied permission to marry a non-Qatari by the government.⁵⁵Yousef, “I’m Qatari, and I want to be able to decide for myself who I marry”, Doha News, 8 November 2016,https://dohanews.co/im-qatari-want-able-decide-marry/ Both pieces were published in the months leading up to the blocking of the site.⁵⁶Neha Rashid and Rahma El-Deeb, “Doha News readers concerned over ownership change”, The Daily Q, https://thedailyq.org/7569/features/doha-news-readers-concerned-over-change-in-ownership/ Around two months before the block, Doha News wrote an article⁵⁷”Qatar’s cybercrime law is being abused by criminals and must be changed”, Doha News, 8 October 2016, https://www.dohanews.co/qatars-cybercrime-law-is-being-abused-by-criminals-and-must-be-changed/ criticizing the cybercrime law effect on journalists demanding it must be changed. In contrast, an article⁵⁸Asmahan Qarjouli, “Press freedom in Qatar: Where does it stand?” Doha News, 3 May 2021, https://www.dohanews.co/press-freedom-in-qatar-where-does-it-stand/ published in 2021 from Doha News celebrated press freedom in Qatar.

Expression online and cybercrime laws

In 2014, in what was widely considered a significant setback for freedom of expression in Qatar, a new cybercrimes law criminalizing the spreading of “false news” on the internet was introduced.⁵⁹Squire Patton Boggs, “Unofficial translation of Law No. (14) of 2014 Promulgating the Cybercrime Prevention Law, http://chato.cl/blog/files/QatarCybercrimeLaw_unofficial_translation.pdf The new law allows the authorities to ban websites that they consider threatening to the “safety” of the country and punish anyone who posts or shares online content that “undermines” Qatar’s “social values” or “general order”. The meaning of these terms is not defined by the new legislation.⁶⁰”Qatar: 5-Year Prison Sentence Set for ‘Fake News’”, Human Rights Watch, 22 January 2020, https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/01/22/qatar-5-year-prison-sentence-set-fake-news It also provides for sentences of up to three years in prison and a fine of 500,000 Qatari Rial (roughly 140,000 USD). It prohibits online activity deemed to be threatening to the safety of the state, general order, local or international peace. The judicial authorities can order internet providers to block content.⁶¹Squire Patton Boggs, “Unofficial translation of Law No. (14) of 2014 Promulgating the Cybercrime Prevention Law, http://chato.cl/blog/files/QatarCybercrimeLaw_unofficial_translation.pdf

In January 2020, Qatar further strengthened its Penal Code⁶²Penal Code, Ministry of Justice, https://www.almeezan.qa/LawArticles.aspx?LawArticleID=79816&LawID=26&language=ar with Article 136 bis under “Crimes against Internal State Security” stating:

“[…], whoever broadcasts or publishes or republishes rumors or statements or false or malicious news or sensational propaganda, inside or outside the state, whenever it was intended to harm national interests or incite public opinion or disturb the social or public order of the state […] shall be punished by imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years and a fine not exceeding (100,000) one hundred thousand riyals, or by one of these two penalties. The penalty is doubled if the crime is committed in wartime.”

Article 134 states that:

“The penalty of imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years shall apply to any person who challenges by any public means the exercising by the Emir of his rights or authorities, or criticizes his person. The same penalty shall apply to any person who commits any of the previous offences on the deputy Emir or the Crown Prince.”

Expression of humanist values and critical thinking

“Crimes Related to Religions and the Violability of the Dead” is a chapter in the Penal Code containing articles 256-267. These articles provide a set of laws that can be used to severely limit critical thought.⁶³”Crimes Related to Religions and the Violability of the Dead”, Law no. 11 of 2004, Ministry of Justice, https://www.almeezan.qa/LawArticles.aspx?LawTreeSectionID=249&LawID=26&language=en

Article 259 criminalizes doubts in Islamic teaching and those who favor critical thinking.[⁶⁴”Crimes Related to Religions and the Violability of the Dead”, Law no. 11 of 2004, Ministry of Justice, https://www.almeezan.qa/LawArticles.aspx?LawTreeSectionID=249&LawID=26&language=en It states, “Whoever opposes or doubts any of the basics or tenets of Islam, or calls upon, or favors or promotes another religion, cult or concept shall be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years.” Notably the English version omits some specifics like mentioning “methods” which can be a school of thought within Sunni-Islam, instead the English version mentions “cults.” The article has additional content that was dropped in translation. It perhaps is due to the Arabic text utilizing vague language, and concepts that aren’t that easily defined. This article can be used against anyone who is seen to deviate from an orthodoxy that is left undefined. We have been unable to verify the use of this article.

‘Apostasy’ laws

Leaving Islam is a capital offense punishable by death in Qatar. However, since 1971 no punishment for apostasy has been recorded.⁶⁵”Qatar” chapter in 2020 Report on International Religious Freedom, Office on International Religious Freedom, US Department of State, https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/qatar/

Qatar’s Law 11 of 2004 incorporates Sharia law into various offenses, including apostasy. Article 1 states:⁶⁶”Article 1″, Law no.11 of 2004, Ministry of Justice, https://www.almeezan.qa/LawArticles.aspx?LawArticleID=593&LawId=26&language=en

“The provisions of Islamic law for the following offenses are applied if the defendant or victim is a Muslim:
1. The hudud offenses related to theft, banditry, adultery, defamation, alcohol consumption, and apostasy.
2. The offenses of retaliation (qisas) and blood money (diyah).”

Blasphemy law

The Penal Code criminalizes blasphemy, including insulting the “Supreme Being.”⁶⁷Law no. 11 of 2004, Ministry of Justice, https://www.almeezan.qa/LawView.aspx?opt&LawID=26&language=en The defamation or desecration of Islam, Christianity, or Judaism is punishable by up to seven years in prison.

Article 256 of the Penal Code states:

“Whoever commits the following acts shall be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding seven years:

1- Insulting Allah through writing, drawing, gesturing or in any other way or through any other means.
2- Offending, misinterpreting or violating the Holy Quran.
3- Offending the Islamic religion or any of its rites and dictates.
4- Cursing any of the divine religions according to the regulations of Islamic law.
5- Insulting any of the prophets through writing, drawing, gesturing or in any other way or through any other means.
6- Sabotaging, breaking, damaging or violating sites or their contents if they are made to perform religious rites for one of the divine religions according to the regulations of Islamic law.”

Article 263 prohibits the circulation or production of symbols, slogans or drawings that might offend the Islamic religion:

“Whoever produces, sells, exposes for sale or circulation, or possesses products, merchandise, prints or tapes, including drawings, slogans, words, symbols, signals or anything else that may offend the Islamic religion or other divine religions according to the dictates of Islamic law, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year and a fine not exceeding one thousand Qatari Riyals (QR 1.000). The same penalty shall be imposed on any person who uses disks, computer programs or magnetized tapes to offend Islam or other divine religions according to the dictates of Islamic law.”