Thread by @Rothna_Begum

#Qatar’s constitution says women are equal before the law, yet its male guardianship rules treat women as legal minors. Lack of transparency means women don’t often know what the rules are. See new @hrw report bit.ly/3fswQrT #WomensRightsQatar Thread 👇

1) #Qatar laws require women to have male guardian permission to marry.

“Nawal” said her younger brother refused to give her permission to marry and only relented as a favor to their mother. New @hrw report bit.ly/3fswQrT #WomensRightsQatar

2) Under #Qatari law women indirectly need male guardian permission for govt scholarships to study. Women also said in Qatar University they needed guardian permission to enter or leave campus in a taxi, live in student housing, and to take field trips as part of their studies.

3) No law in #Qatar requires women to obtain male guardian permission to work, but it’s not prohibited. Many government ministries, some institutions & state schools impose this requirement on Qatari women in the hiring process. bit.ly/3fswQrT #WomensRightsQatar @hrw

4) #Qatar interior ministry requires unmarried Qatari women under 25 years old to have male guardian permission to travel abroad. In 2020, they even stopped women over 25 to check for guardian approval. See @hrw bit.ly/3fswQrT #WomensRightsQatar

5) Women also need their husband’s consent for some forms of reproductive health care relating to childbearing, such as sterilization and abortion. They also have to show they are married to access sexual and reproductive health care e.g. prenatal care, transvaginal ultrasounds.

6) Women cannot be primary guardians of their own children in #Qatar including to make decisions relating to their children’s documents, finances, travel, and sometimes schooling and medical treatment, even if they are have “custody” or the father has died.

7) Discrimination in laws relating to divorce and children has left some women trapped in abusive relationships, often waiting years to obtain a divorce. If they leave, they may be unable to remarry for fear of losing custody of their children.

8) Women also face internal restrictions. Some #Qatar hotels prohibit unmarried Qatari women under age 30 from renting a hotel room unaccompanied by a male relative, and #Qatari women are prohibited from attending some events and entering places that serve alcohol.

9) Foreign national women in Qatar, whose husbands or fathers are their visa sponsors, are also under controls comparable to male guardianship. Women need their visa sponsor’s permission to get a driver’s license, work permit, or obtain a government scholarship to study in Qatar.

10) Most women interviewed said that the rules have taken a heavy toll on their ability to lead independent lives. #Qatar should remove all discriminatory rules against women, pass anti-discrimination legislation, and ensure that women have the civic space to demand their rights.