Be careful with what you wear in Qatar,

i mean... soul-feeding. typographical error.

Cheers once more!

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back off man... am trying to keep my sanity intact... the heat is excruciatingly tearing my sense of humour here.

but nyways... sould feeding can be the best panacea.

cheers!

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alex...thats exactly correct...as an expat we should observed with the rules that governs here...as if you had another choice, right?

You sound familiar.. Did we by any chance meet on one of the moons of Guida prime ???

.. dont worry being an outcast here on earth leading a proper life as you will be seated in the golden chair up above with all the angels and a smiling God beside you.

Cheers!

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sometimes its likely worst to live decently because it shall lead you a life of an outcast in this world full of impurities.....

but that makes the world go round after all...right?

... to name a few - insolence, deeper greed, bloodier violence, white slavery, immorality, inhumanity.

Indeed ...to be human is divine.

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I do agree with u .. and it didn't only overshadows respect ..

it overshadow a lot of other things ..

we are one on this sentiment...

Sadly - money, wealth, overshadows RESPECT especially for the smallest of the earthlings.

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i conceded thee ...

RAM --- i conceded to your ideals that respect should be the building blocks to keep us live harmoniously despite of our apparent differences in race, religion, culture and beliefs..only PEACE shall we gain if we start respecting one another...

funny but true, we christians sometimes had a hard time understanding the ideals of other religions for example ,with the muslims.At such,this lifetime battle had no winning in the end because it can be only resolve through the value of RESPECT...

[QUOTE]Is so refreshing to read something so true and so clear from a missunderstod religion.

Congratulations,I love what you wrote, adn it is true, it's not a matter of they forcing us, it's simply us respecting their laws, rules and traditions, no matter where are we from or on what do we believe.[/QUOTE]

I'm so glad that u understand the misunderstood in our religion .. and there are a lot in fact which is misunderstood .. by those ppl who r acting as they r protecting the Islam .. in fact they r protecting themselves ..

Islam has never said to be cruel or force other to respect ..

Respect is to be gained not to be forced ..

and I'm glad that u will respect my religion as i respect urs too ..

Me and my wife, r from different religions (I'm Muslim n she is Christian).. and so far we have never faced a problem in our relationship caused by religion .. as we both fully respect each others religion.

cuz religion is her relationship with God and i has nothing to do with it .. and if i tried to force her .. believe me she will hate Islam .. and she will curse the day that she decided to marry a Muslim ..

Forcing has never been the solution for any matter on earth .. in the opposite, it cause more problems

Next thing Sarkozy will want, is to ask the nuns to take off their habits?

the reminders are more likely for all expats, not just for Americans.

But, what is this?- "The Mission also discouraged sleeveless shirts and blouses, halter tops and shorts."

sleeveless shirts/blouses?? but it's summer! OMG! Then how can we wear our summer dresses?

I'll cover it up!LOL!

... but i guess for argument sake, they will jsut keep on.

somehow, i have contributed my thoughts and i guess, i did my piece in this thread.

Live and let live!

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"Americans are strongly encouraged to avoid labor or work camps, where unrest can occur due to local working conditions or labor grievances." My information is that there was also some religious activity going on with labor camps that attracted attention.

Mandi

I think that at the end of the day, Muslims or not, we are just visitors here, we do not know all their rules and, in much cases, we don't even speak the language, so, what's the point to fight them? Are we gonna change anything? Are we gonna improve something?

NO, we won't, we will just waste energy and time, because the will always win, and that's the fair thing, because it is their country.

I admire a lot of their traditions and because of it I respect them willingly, and the ones that just don't make sense to me, I respect because I don't understand.

Let's stop the eternal fight with them and start accepting them and thanking them because after all, they are letting us be here.

Is so refreshing to read something so true and so clear from a missunderstod religion.

Congratulations,I love what you wrote, adn it is true, it's not a matter of they forcing us, it's simply us respecting their laws, rules and traditions, no matter where are we from or on what do we believe.

Thanks!

From what I know, Qatar Authority for Charitable Activities has no right to question your activities, As they also report to a higher authority. Which is the Ministry of Social Affairs(Located at Barzan Tower West bay). For you to perform volunteering activities & Accept donation, You need to form a society. Which also have to be registered in the ministry of social Affairs-Societies Department. As they’ll be an Audit government body on all your activities. All societies in Qatar (Qatari Doctors, Lawyers, Engineers, etc) and charity houses (Qatar charity, Eid, Etc) reports to the MSA.

.....Sorry for hijacking

PITSTOPS,

Some people who like to be called Muslims spend their lives imposing and pressuring others (like the local government apparently), giving the religion a bad name!

Too bad that there are not enough of Ram's in the world to clarify the non-invasive real Islam.

If so, Islam would be much more respected and known and the extremists would not fool others in the name of Islam.

Islam is a religion. You can't blame it for peoples interpretations. Its really simple.

And about the Charitable Drives - I am talking to them and we will reach a positive solution. Wish us luck - Allah is with us inshallah :)

Ram,

Too bad (for Islam) they are not like you!

yes exactly that's what they r doing ..

PLUS giving the bad impression to the whole world ..

If you smoke in public in Ramadan before iftar - you go to jail :) I love that rule!

We had the same concern. I hope it is still ok to have charitable drives here.

Thanks so much for responding..the rest of the message was lost when I read about "avoiding" labor sites and charitable initiatives.

Keep us posted. ;)

Ram,

what they are doing is destroying Islam!

I often wander around in a towel (over my mink lined thong)..

The guidelines are appropriate. i have seen similar from USA and UK companies in Saudi..

As the old saying goes - "When in Rome, don't be a Christian"

That Muslim has no power on disbelievers

God said in his book

[88:21] You shall remind, for your mission is to deliver this reminder.

[88:22] You have no power over them.

[88:23] As for those who turn away and disbelieve.

[88:24] GOD will commit them to the great retribution.

[88:25] To us is their ultimate destiny.

[88:26] Then we will call them to account.

I guess we can't find it more clearer than that ..

God him self Said "you have no power on them"

I don't really understand what those -so called Muslims- r doing .. and they think that they r doing what islam told them ..

Read the Quran again, it's simple and clear .. and know u rights .. and how we should deal with non-believers

[2:183] O you who believe, fasting is decreed for you, as it was decreed for those before you, that you may attain salvation.

He said "O you who believe"

God was saying that Fasting "Seyam" is for those who are believers and not for everybody ..

and i didn't see in our Holy book anything that says "force non-believers to either respect ur religion or to fast also bcuz u do"

[2:185] Ramadan is the month during which the Quran was revealed, providing guidance for the people, clear teachings, and the statute book. Those of you who (believers) witness this month shall fast therein. Those who are ill or traveling may substitute the same number of other days. GOD wishes for you convenience, not hardship, that you may fulfill your obligations, and to glorify GOD for guiding you, and to express your appreciation.

We can easily notice that God repeated it again for believers ONLY.. and even he said "SHALL" and not "SHOULD" or "MUST"

cuz there is exceptions if u r sick or traveling u can substitute those days after RAMADAN

I guess our Quraan is very clear .. and it shows that those other LAWS in this country are made based on HUMAN NEEDS and not ISLAM ..

Ram,

It's not the religion then, it's some (too many) of the followers who ruin it!

I'm afraid to say .. YES! it's against Islam ..

Our religion didn't tell us to ban people from eating or drinking during Ramadan ..

We shall ask them to respect our religion .. But not FORCE .. This is country rules and not Islam ..

People r using their power to make HUMAN Laws .. and Say it's Islam .. in fact it's not ..

They are weak Muslims who can't fast while seeing others eating and for that reason they made the law ..

But me as a Muslim, Will ask u if possible not to eat in front of me while i'm fasting as it's not humanity to see me starving and u eat in front of me .. u still can eat but it won't harm u if u hide ..

Still it's ur choice .. I neither have power on u .. nor Islam asked us to do so .. u can still eat ..

Watch out! According to QATAR LAW (and not Islam) eating in public during Ramadan is consider to be a violence and u might be charged against it .. if get caught

================================================

My Music: http://www.showcaseyourmusic.com/LittleGuitarist

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still would go for any other religion who does not impose anything on others ;)

You wrote

Our Islam didn't tell us to force non-believers to follow our rules and wear like what we do .. u have ur own religion and they have their own ..

Then how come, my company is banning all drinking and eating in the office in public or your own private room during the month of Ramadan?? surely this is against Islam then?

It's a Qatari company by the way.

Ram and Lusitano - France is an extreme position. Many do not agree with it. U go to Germany or ENgland or anywhere else in Europe a Muslim girl is never forced to take off her hijab. People may say stuff, but that is on the basis that they don't understand and they don't get it. You can call it ignorance if you want, and in a way, it is ignorance of just a different way of doing things. But no Qatari, in my experience, has ever forced a foreigner to wear the hijab. Nor has a foreigner ever been forced to wear an abaya. It's simply a request that becuase Qatar is more religious and more conservative (please also note that France wishes to be secular, it's just a different method of governance), they request that women here simply dress up a little more restrained.

QLVG charitable activities in Doha, Qatar.

Just to inform you all that I have sent a letter to the Director General of Qatar Authority for Charitable Activities asking their concern about QLVG Charitable activities in past and I also mentioned about our future projects. Hopefully we will receive a positive response for them which should be enough for us to continue our Volunteer work in Qatar.

Once I receive a reply from QACA positive or negative, it will be posted on QL.

I really appreciate your concern and ensure that QLVG will never take any step which goes against the Law.

As per my knowledge, if any organization or individual who are not registered with QACA, collecting cash in the name of Charity is strictly not allowed unless it is done through any registered charity organization or through the Embassies of the concern Countries in the case of extreme disaster such as Earth Quake etc...

But helping the people in need who are living in Qatar, by collecting items such as used clothes/shoes, providing water/ food, donating blood etc... supporting Govt in it's initiative for keep Qatar Clean and Green is allowed.

Just to be on safe side I will seek their written approval so that we can carry on our volunteer activities as usual.

Ram,

Thank you, that was a nice passage!

That is why the non believers see Islam differently from any other peaceful and non-invasive religion! Nobody else imposes anything on anybody else...

Then we should not blame France when they asked the muslim school girls to remove their headscarf ...

If Americans gonna respect the religion here and cover their body ... then Muslims when they go abroad they should do the same .. and reveal their bodies .. (so called respect the traditions)

That's non sense ... Our Quraan (Holy Book) said it simple ..

"I don't worship what you do, neither you worship what i do nor me will worship what u did, you have your own religion and i have my own"

Our Islam didn't tell us to force non-believers to follow our rules and wear like what we do .. u have ur own religion and they have their own ..

Cuz if god wanted to create us all as Muslims he would have done that ..

but i would advice the western also to cover their bodies .. JUST FOR THEIR SAFETY ... cuz the RATIO here of woman and men is

1 Woman : 100 Men

which is totally abnormal ..

you mean like the one who permits:

"unrest can occur due to local working conditions or labor grievances."

this is what a responsible govt. should do.

The article published in the local newspaper conveniently omitted why American citizens are advised to stay away from labor camps:

Americans are strongly encouraged to avoid labor or work camps, where unrest can occur due to local working conditions or labor grievances.

like rules, laws set by our own country and other countries but this is the rule, their laws as we have ours where we require others to abide. We can only wonder if we are passive and rebel if we are active and proactive. the choice remains in our hands.

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its for your own safety!.

_______________________________________________________

"You cannot propel yourself forward by patting yourself on the back."

Never heard or seen such a thing.

I refuse to drink the kool-aid! -- PM

convert to Islam :-) In fact, most Americans will come into contact with more than one person who attempts to convert them. But then, that is not against Qatar's laws :-)

I refuse to drink the kool-aid! -- PM

well, rules are rules, since this is not our territory, just follow, better be safe than sorry

you would be lashed,,,,so count your blessings!

And why is it? Don't wanna show us the other side of the reality of Qatar?

"Everything in this book may be wrong." Illusions: The Adventures of The Reluctant Messiah by Richard Bach

Qatar is very very very simple.

1) Do not do Drugs/Crime

2) No public display of affection

3) Live your own life.

Stick to these 3 simple rules, and you'll be fine.

Easy read this post

"The United States has advised"

And that's where it stops.

IGNORE.

According to the article: 'Attempting to convert a member of one religion to another, "sharing one's faith" with someone of a different faith, and similar practices can be deemed violations of Qatari law.'

What if a local tries to convert me to Islam from religion X (say by ridiculing my beliefs because they are not consistent with Islam)? Is the local breaking the law?

Somehow I doubt it, but curious nonetheless.

The more i stay in the Middle East, the more i can see the beauty of a more conservative clothing in public. Isn't it cool to be dressed up properly to avoid unlikely incidents like being whistled? well.. i dont know girls if youlike being whistled but i dont. this is too cheap for me. I feel cheap with being whistled. Dressing up properly in public commands respect and dignity.

The keyword is PROPER. Privately, you may dressed up in whatever way you want to please your spouse and yourself. Dress up accordingly when seeing ladies only and dress up properly when seeing th company of your spouses. In short, dress up like a dignified woman and not a woman who would/could temp somebody's spouse intentionally or unintentionally.

Just a thought...

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The charitable guidelines apply to anyone wanting to undertake charitable activities in Qatar, not just US people. Hence why QAWS struggles to raise money, as the government wont give them charitable status.

It depends on exactly what you're doing and there are ways around having to get approval. I'm sure SPEED is aware of all this.

conducted by US expats only, not for all? I mean this memo is for the US expats as guidelines, not necessarily for all. Am I correct?

Excatly, the reverse of the reminder on how moderate and tolerance the rest of us be, viz-a-viz on how extreme the host normally gets.

I guess they figured that if Qatar isn't going to bother writing down any laws itself (and I don't count the dress code stickers on the entrance to malls as laws!) then they might as well do it themselves. Good work.

TCom wrote

"Are QLVG Charitable activities approved by QACA?"

Can Speed please comment on this?

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HE WHO DARES WINS

Agree w/Chuck. We are guests here. Respect the traditions, especially simple ones like dressing more conservatively.

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A wise young crackpot knows no fear - Ian Dury.

"The embassy also issued strict guidelines to US citizens involved in charitable activities. “Charitable activities, both religious and non-religious, must be approved in advance by Qatar Authority for Charitable Activities (QACA)"

Are QLVG Charitable activities approved by QACA?

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This isn't exactly rocket science folks - considering we all know what locals wear, and the culture and religion that is here, if we don't like well it's the usual argument that we can all just go home. THink of it this way folks - if you expect foreigners to respect the way things are in your home country, you should do the same when u go to a foreign country. At the end of the day, is it really a big deal whether you can wear a halter neck and mini-skirt in public? In this weather would you really want to up your chances of skin cancer, wrinkles and other issues etc?

http://www.qatarliving.com/node/600969