Qatar Culture at Wakif souq!
This mail came from a friend of mine.He talks about his experience in Wakif souq last weekend. Interesting, because most of the educated Qatar nationals we come across are friendly and good natured.
"On 13th March 2009, I visited Souq Waqif with my cousin. It was about 4.30pm and first we had tea from one of the coffee shops. Then we decided to walk around to check the shops. And we did take some snaps of the Souq including the famous horse riders. After a few minutes when we were coming out of a shop, we saw an official pointing us to a police man. And this police man, with traditional headgear, came and stopped us and said ‘ you can’t go here’, to which I said ‘ my car is parked on this side, so I have to walk this side to go out’. He again said ‘ you go wherever you want, you can’t go here’ , meaning the main street in Souq Waqif! When I asked him how we can go to our car, he repeated saying ‘go’ and asked us back in to the building. Looking at the stern face, I didn’t want to argue again and walked back in to the building and came back to the street from another alley and walked back to my car humiliated, first time in life.
Being a businessman I have lived and travelled to many countries like US, Singapore, Germany and all GCC countries, but never I was thrown out of any place and that too for no reason. I am not sure whether this is the Qatar culture they are promoting in Souq Waqif!
The same day I had been to Pearl Qatar. I was stopped at the gate and was told politely by a traditionally dressed gentleman that since I didn’t have a pass I can’t visit Pearl. But the gentleman asked me to come back on Saturday, so that I can visit without pass. That was decent, polite and professional. Not like the experience in Souq Waqif where they just asked us to get out.
Next month a few of my associates from Europe and GCC are visiting Qatar to take part in Projects Qatar exhibition. I had plans to take them to Souq Waqif. But not anymore. Who wants to be there if this is the culture they plan to offer to visitors. And I certainly don’t want to be thrown out in front of visitors from other countries.
I hope that the authorities concerned will take a better look at the matters in Souq Waqif and see that the true culture is promoted and not some kind of high handedness by a few who have frog in a well mentality."
I have added Wakif as one place which will be banned from my scheme of things. And I am not alone. All our friends have decided to do so.. My friend did sent a letter to one of the English newspapers about this and they just ignored it. Maybe media freedom is stuck with Doha Free media forum!
Man that sucks... You should have just stared him down.
Roadtester, yes thats the important point in this case. He is of Indian origin.
Kwan what nationality/ethincity was your colleague?
I like that saying 'frog in a well', i have never heard that expression before.
Hearing situations like this makes me dislike this place more and more.
Adey, so that means the critirea to let people visit Wakif is clear. Really painful to note this. I hope this is not an official stand, and just some rule followed by a few uncultured fellows manning Wakif.
Pearl is open to all without any pass / permission. i.e. if you are going to shopping area.
It happened to me in Souq Waqif last June, well actually not to me but my Sri Lankan friend. The tourist police officer told him he could not walk down the main street there past the coffee houses, when we (2 white europeans) questioned the officer as to why not, suddenly there was no problem! If he was with us he was free to walk where ever he wanted.
We were all dressed up for a night on the town so it doesn't take a genius to work out the difference between us.
"Deaths in the Bible. God - 2,270,365
not including the victims of Noah's flood, Sodom and Gomorrah, or the
many plagues, famines, fiery serpents, etc because no specific numbers
were given. Satan - 10."
Hu Wan I agree with you. And the basis of the case to case impelementation of such policies make one wonder, whether Qatar can be called progressive? The real issue I beleive is to how to bring the modern outlook the Leaders want to have, down to these lower level officers. Unless they do that cush incidents will keep on happening, spoiling the name of the country.
to fathom sometimes. Looks like policies are made and implemented by individuals on a case to case basis since just a few days ago one QLer was praising the 'authorities' in that area. I don't want to taint your views on some flimsy 'r' thing though one is much tempted to do so. My take here is that, it's like everyone is his own authority. How do you explain his attitude towards you, right? Unless gov't. steps in to correct this malady, the country will eventually suffer. But then again, just like some people here who sometimes parrot this irritating line, "If you don't like it here why don't you just leave". Did we miss this sign at the airport when we came over here? Just askin...