Will sex outside marriage really be banned during the FIFA World Cup in Qatar?

A few months before the FIFA World Cup in Qatarinformation caused a media frenzy. the Qatar decided to prohibit sexual relations between unmarried persons. An English tabloid, the Daily Starnot really known for its seriousness, warns that those who do not respect the rule during the World Cup could receive 7 years in prison. For this information, the newspaper relied on two anonymous sources: a policewoman and another within the Fifa.

However, this information is not a scoop, these laws already existed before the World Cup. The prohibition of sexual relations outside marriage is contained in article 281 of the Penal Code qatari. In the case of homosexual relations, people can also be sentenced to 7 years in prison. According to specialists from the Gulf countries, these laws are no longer applied. “Regarding the issue of sexuality outside marriage in Qatar, it is no longer sanctioned, it is practiced, it is no longer punishable”assures Sébastien Boussoispolitical science researcher associated with theULB (Brussels). The president of the organizing committee nevertheless warned of cultural differences while reassuring the supporters. “Public displays of affection are frowned upon, that’s just it”did he declare.