What is wrong with the courts in Qatar?
Two sentences reported in the Gulf Times. In one, someone was killed through negligence (manslaughter); in the other, an injured man SAID something that he should not have said. Which do you think merited the seven-year sentence? And do you think a system such is this is ready for the influx of world tourists that would come with hosting the world cup?
QR20,000 fine for motorist:
A Doha court has fined an Arab motorist QR20,000 and sentenced him to three months in jail for fatally knocking down a Bangladeshi pedestrian.
The judges suspended the jail term of the 31-year-old Tunisian considering his clean record. His driving licence was suspended for three months.
A traffic report said that the suspect drove his car “recklessly” on the stretch between Sanaa roundabout and the Ras Abu-Aboud underpass and hit the victim. The fatal accident took place on December 16 last year and the Bangladeshi (53) succumbed to his injuries after three days in the hospital.
The Tunisian told the interrogators that he was driving his car “on the fast lane at 55kmph and the pedestrian appeared suddenly in front of him and the collision was unavoidable”.
A traffic interrogator told the court that the accused was “fully responsible for the accident due to his excessive speed and lack of caution.”
Expatriate jailed in blasphemy case
A Lebanese expatriate has been sentenced to seven years in jail and subsequent deportation in a blasphemy case.
The Doha court of first instance heard that the accused, 24, uttered the blasphemous words when he was being carried in a stretcher to an ambulance from his house.
According to the charge-sheet, the accused cursed two male nurses and uttered blasphemous words in the incident which took place on September 5 last year.
The two Arab plaintiffs testified that the accused was “aware” of his words and that his medical status was generally fine. They dropped their personal rights in the case leaving the accused to face blasphemy charges.
The accused denied blasphemy but agreed that he cursed the two nurses for falling short on their duty.
The defendant’s lawyer argued that his client was “unaware” of his words. The court dismissed the lawyer’s claim, relying on the nurses’ testimony and punished the Lebanese with the maximum penalty of seven year’s imprisonment.
Exactly, they always allow posts against Qataris and Arabs, even the racist idiot used Qatari stereotype and tried to use it back the statistics of accidents here.
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Enough!]
Any native Qatari speaker will be the first to tell you that our dialect is not properly spoken and understood by other Arabs, furthermore, definitely not by an indian.Funny how your other racist in crime Olive was claiming I was racist against indians and pakistanis! Make your minds you clowns. You agreed with Gkramer that indians have Qataris as their masters, making you his racist buddy.
Linc you must be a genius, you and that clown accuse me of not being qatari how else would I respond with anything but proof? If Qatari arabic is that common then find me ONE non-qatari poster, just ONE on this forum who can speak with our dialect. You won't be able to...because you are ignorant and love speaking about things you know nothing about, just like foreign culture, world politics and anything else that someone with an education would be familiar with.
Scotia has a point, none of the cases in the OP involves qataris.
Mods should have deleted linc's post where he bashed qataris
Looks like the moderators are deleting Scotiabank's posts. I guess he was the insensitive one after all. Maybe they will kick him off and he will reincarnate himself on QL as yet another nationality!
I am sure he will ;)
Scotiabank--read the posts. I didn't say anything about Indians and Qatari masters.
So you 'exposed' us with your claims of speaking Arabic? All Arabic speakers are not Qatari, or are you really that ignorant? Just more evidence you are not who you claim to be. Keep it up, Scotiabank, this is just getting more entertaining by the minute; I haven't laughed this hard in weeks.
gkramer--I told you this would try and come up with 'proof'. Next he will get someone to write that they met him and that he is Qatari lol.
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LAST WARNING!]
Yes, your proved yourself to be a racist with linc, both of you claim indian masters are Qataris, that's very racist.
ma3ndhum salfa hal awadem
gkramer--Looks like we hit a nerve on Scotiabank. Definitely not who he says he is or he wouldn't be so defensive. Next he will try and fabricate "proof" lol.
Nice try to come back but the damage is done ;)
Redneck???? who me???? LOL...
[Mind your language!]
Thanx gkramer--it explains a lot.
linc save your breath mate. This is scotiabank's comment on another thread ,"my favourite food is the biryani, in india many different styles but in doha we have same style all the time."
He is an Indian, maybe just looking to suck up to his masters.
And for the record, the road deaths per capita in Qatar is amongst the highest in the developed world (several times that of Canada, the US and UK). Qatar is 60th in the world for GDP 1/16 that of Canada's, which is 10th.
ex.ex.pat I just pointed out how that linc ignores his own countries problems, if I described canadians as drunk drivers everyone would whine about it, but when idiots on here generalise qataris its a 'joke' and I lack a sense of humour, i love your double standards.
Typical American government response when faced with the truth, you must be working for the US gov gkramer.
And he lapses into an incoherent rant ;)
to compare qatar to canada. apples and oranges, mate. and silly to even get into this.
[Mind your language!]
out of it. I guess that must hurt you, eh? But then, it does help fill your pockets :)
Cowards don't go around invading other countries. Your last two comments are contradictory. Decide first, are we invaders or are we cowards?
Mine is bigger than yours!!!
Why did you have to turn this into a d*ck measuring thread? pathetic.
Yes, stop invading other countries and killing innocent people.
Yes scotiabank we are cowards, anything else?
Gkramer your government got scared like cowards when Saudi threatened to stop doing deals with USA if they kept up investigations with one certain vip saudi. GO LOOK IT UP. Qatar has more ties to the US than Saudi now, your government knows this.
Scotiabank just to correct you, Canada doesn't really talk on a global scale and nobody will listen to Qatar if it did.
Look how linc almost cried when I pointed out my observation but he thinks it's ok for him to generalise qataris because he is white, he thinks he is better than other races. Go look at the number of drunk drivers in caanda, the racism you have committed against blacks and aboriginals and give the silly 'rewards' leaving the abos all drunk and needing serious help financially and for education. All drugs and violence in your great country and people living like dogs.
You are the ignorant racist here not me, and you talk about Qataris you forgot how your people have so much opportunities for education and still they are drunkards and losers like you who come to doha and feel good because only here you can feel superior to everyone. All the doctors/engineers in canada are mostly indians/chinese and you racist sit back and make fun of them, and come to places like Qatar trying to act like you're something, the decent native canadian professionals all move to America because of your slavery government system. Let's be real, you may have olympics (they rejected for the heat in doha, something you dont want to admit), but the world is more likely to listen when Qatar talks than in Canada. In four months we make more profitable deals than Canada does in 2 years, if canada was great the high skilled workers wouldn't run away to america, and the sh!t ones like you wouldn't run to qatar to make yourself feel you are worth a penny!
genesis--Fair point. I don't normally get into the us-versus-them sort of rhetoric, but Scotiabank's arrogant ignorance rubbed me the wrong way. Canadian and English (Scotland has its own system) are based on common law, so it is ever evolving, and so a start date does not really exist. But in fairness, too, dating Qatar's system to 1971 is a bit hasty, as Qatar hardly started fresh; sharia law obviously predates 1971! The seven-year standard blasphemy sentence does strike me as a bit of throw-back that needs to be revisited.
Would someone address the question about what constitutes blasphemy in Qatar (without being blasphemous themselves!)? It is clear from the cases cited in the wikipedia article that each predominately Islamic country follows its own (and diverse) rules on this. KSA has a habit of arresting foreigners for committing blasphemy in other countries.
http://www.qatarliving.com/node/1087704?page=1
we don't know the details so I wouldn't want to jump to a conclusion
But I do admit that on face value, it seems unfair
but then knowing the press, I am sure they inject their own fair bit of sensationalism in to it
but seven years for a harsh tongue is interesting
I know a few people on QL who would be serving multiple life sentences if the authorities decided to scoop down on QL
and considering that there is documented evidence, it would be an open and shut case...
to make it worse, the Lebanese guy would have been heard by what... 10 to 15 people max
A comment on QL could be read by up to a 100 different people and therefore 'corrupts more minds' :-)
Food for thought...
but their Official language is Arabic, he is not all innocent cos he understands each word with meaning, so tell me how he is Poor?
And they are not located at Alaska
With all due respect, I thought you were far more intelligent to get on "my country vs. Yours" kind of discussion. And since you brought it up, when did Canada or the UK formulated it's judicial system? And how many decades it took to be evolved into what it is now?
I have addressed in many different threads that only in 1971 civil courts started Handling civil disputes & criminals matters
You'd be naive if you think we are unaware of the inconsistency of some of the rulings, which is expected when the there is this fine line between what is handled in a civil court and what is taken to sharia court. The current legal system , have undergone many amendments over the past decade to comply with international laws. But don't expect that our legislation will ever be typical to yours, as there must be a balance by applying both civil law & preserving our sharia law.
thanks for link linc, sadly i should've been locked up years ago.......perhaps with half of the rest of world.
Good point flanostu. What does constitute blasphemy in Qatar? It seems to be different in every predominately Muslim country; perhaps the Lebanese chap did not know the local definition.
Wikipedia has an interesting entry on blasphemy in Islam and the diversity of court-ruled definitions:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_and_blasphemy
what are "the" blasphemes words?
poor guy was probably in agony, but alas we are in Qatar.
and sadly the payment allocation for killing someone is based on the deceased's country of origin.
bleu--Because I saw yet another Qatari-driven Land Cruiser jump a median and smash into on oncoming car the other day. It upset me, and I was responding to my outrage with an attempt at humor. Can you honestly say that what I wrote about Qatari driving practices (at least those young males driving white Land Cruisers) is an entirely false?
I had heard that some judges are Egyptian, but it is the foreign infiltration in the judiciary so great that foreign judges are even deciding capital cases? Very sad state of things, if so, and somethings that needs to be fixed.
Scotiabank--I have Canadian and UK citizenship; I was born in Canada, educated in the US and UK and have spent most of my working life in the UK and US. All three countries have their positives and negatives, but all three countries are far more significant than Qatar on cultural, economic and political levels. Qatar only exceeds these countries in its ability to have it natural resources exploited by other nations for huge profits. Moreover, all three countries have better universities, higher GDPs, more noble prize winners, better human rights records, etc. than Qatar. And all three have hosted the olympics; something Qatar, despite all its cash, has failed to do, because no one really wants to have the olympics (or world cup for the matter) in Doha. If you think otherwise, you have been reading the Gulf Times and drinking the water for too long.
This in not to say Qatar is either all bad or even unpleasant. There are aspects about this country I admire (as I have remarked on numerous other threads). I have enjoyed more short time here contributing to Qatar's attempt to diversify its economy from solely exploitative (i.e. lng extraction) to one that is increasingly knowledge-based.
My problem isn't with Qatar; it is with poorly educated, coddled people such as yourself who think that personal wealth (or more likely that of your parents or indebtedness) denotes merit or intelligence. The unjustified arrogance of SOME of its citizens, as exemplified by your remarks, is probably the biggest negative, and the main reason I fear that all of the great reforms and initiatives of your compatriots may come to nought when you and people like you are charged with running the country. Anyone can win the lottery (essentially what Qatar has done with the good fortune of happening to have salable natural resources); it is what one does with it that shows taste and intelligence. So why don't you just go out and verbally abuse some sales assistant and City Center so you can feel important, and let the grown-ups get back to making this place better.
PS By your definition, your statements against Canadians are racist in tone.
If you want to be pedantic about word usage....
None of the people in these accidents was Qatari. Probably none of the Judges was Qatari. Why bring it in?
Where on this thread have i posted to you?? Why are you people so intent on turning every post into a racial one? and by the way i love the - "Seems to me you are just jealous that your country has no significance to the world and you guys hate countries with wealth". Shows a maturity that only very few have.
Grow-up Scotiabank. Just because someone else misapplies the term "racism" doesn't excuse for perpetuating the wrong. The Afghani baker owes you nothing but the bread you bought, you bigot. I bet you are one of the people who looks at expats and thinks he is indirectly paying their salaries and believes wearing national dress entitles you to immediate respect from all you survey
Bleu may be a bit oversensitive at times, but at least he not an arrogant ***hole without cause. In other threads I have found his comments enlightening.
I noticed you are canadian linc, and I noticed like most of the Canadians on here you have problem with qatar. Even in Canada you canadians always make fun of Americans, but if I joke about their country up against America they all seem offended. Seems to me you are just jealous that your country has no significance to the world and you guys hate countries with wealth.
The correct term is 'national stereotyping'. And, yes, I nationally stereotyped the large number of people who drive around in the exact same vehicle (including color and trim) and pretend they are in the grand prix as they race to (I would say "get to work to be late for a meeting, drink tea, and do a google search" but that might be pushing the stereotype too far). Do all Qataris do this? Of course not, because they cannot all afford the Land Cruiser (as we have discussed on other threads). If you don't like the stereotype, change the perception, lighten up, and stop whining. There are far worse stereotypes for a nation to be burdened with.
BTW, The killing on the road was not an 'accident'; is was a result of criminal negligence according to the court sentence (hence the individual was punished with a fine). If it was truly an accident, he would have been released without penalty.
Be quiet lostinspace, if I make same comments about other nationalities people here say racism! Stop your double standards.
If I am driving at 55, even if a guy appears out of thin air 5 meters away fro me, I can avoid a fatal crash and I am not the greatest driver out there. So don't expect me to believe that he was cruising at 55 and he got into an unavoidable crash resulting in the death.
On the road, pedestrians have the priority (*Universal Rule)
I don't care how long the sentence is for "blasphemy" but killing people should deserve greater punishment than 3 months.
how convenient that the Tunisian driver was doing 55kmph. in a 60kmph zone?!(@ Olive,the stretch between Sana r'about & before the flyover is 60kmph not 80,had it been 80,our Tunisian friend would have been doing 75kmph,well within the limit!)...& the victim was Bangladeshi,probably some poor labourer/cleaner/tea boy...have thousands of them here & many thousands more in Bangladesh,one of 'em getting run over & killed isn't going to make a difference eh?...& of course the Tunisian driver,being "a good Muslim" has probably sworn on the Quran that he was doing exactly 55kmph & not a kmph more so we'll take his word for it & let him off lightly,he killed someone,took another human's life but c'mon it wasn't his fault,who cares that the deceased's family has probably lost their only earning member? That is hardly an issue...
Meanwhile this Lebanese guy SPOKE something wrong...ooohhh big crime,it's the end of the world,let's put him away...why stop @ 7 years???...might as well have given him life & why bother with the 3 months & the 20,000 fine for the Tunisian???...just let the poor guy go,it was an accident,he was within the speed limit(he swears he was so he must've been,he wouldn't lie under oath now would he?),it was completely the Bangladeshi's fault,in fact try & find the Bangladeshi's family,they should be paying for the damage that occured to the Tunisian's car when he ran this guy over & killed him,surely there'd be at least a dented bumper...
I love it how some posters are actually justifying this,"one was an accident, the other is illegal"...?!?!...must be the heat *wink*!!!
What is racist in the statement made by linc? some of you people try and turn everything into a race row - grow up and take it as it is intended - a bit of fun.
bleu don't give me that Accident nonsense. Reckless driving is not an accident. If you keep doing it, sooner rather than later, you gonna end up killing someone.
thank you bleu, these donkeys always make racial comments abotu Qataris and Arabs, yesterday this afghani baker dot.com said Qataris have slave in their genes, he forgot we buy bread from his bakery and help him survive! LOL!
I thought it was a nationality. Why can't people stop whingeing about everything being racist?
linc,
To your OP, There's NOTHING WRONG with the courts in Qatar.
One was an ACCIDENT, the other was somebody deliberately doing something ILLEGAL.
Your comment "The ARB steel bumper is part of the "Qatari option package 1" which also includes the side racing stripes, national flag decal, removal of all seat belts, extra-bright headlights for flashing, and a tissue box holder for the dash board, and it is only available with the color white." is a racist one...
are counter-productive in my opinion. The person will come out of prison hating the religion and its followers that sent him there even more. It is just another example of the ridiculous nanny-state mentality that exists in some parts of the world, and on some forums :)
The ARB steel bumper is part of the "Qatari option package 1" which also includes the side racing stripes, national flag decal, removal of all seat belts, extra-bright headlights for flashing, and a tissue box holder for the dash board, and it is only available with the color white.
But make sure you say " I was just driving along safely, on my way to pray" and that crazy foriegn guy jumped into the road. You will be fined, and have the record expunged because you have no record....
Maybe this was not the first time he squashed some guy with his car.... as you get your records expunged when you pay the fine....
One more thing, who reported the guy from lebenon for his swearing at these nurses.... or should I say cry babies?
Shopping for my Land Cruiser now... any one know where to buy ARB steel bumpers....
After he cursed the nurses, he should have run over them to make sure they did not testify; it would have been a lighter sentence. Even if he had killed his maid, had a extra-marital affair, and assaulted a police officer to do it, the sentence still would have been less than seven years.
Seven years for blasphemy seem the standard sentence. What is most worrying is when there is no second witness, and the accuser has everything to can by the accusation (i.e. the accuser is a disgruntled employee or angry neighbor).
I just like to add that this case would have not made to court, if the
Accusers(in this case the male nurses) have agreed to drop charges.
his fault, he should be aware of the laws of the country, he speaks Arabic so no excuse.
it's a socio-cultural thing putting more weight on 'blasphemy'. The other case was an accident but caused a man's death. A stiffer penalty should have been meted on the driver otherwise it sends a wrong signal. We meet these wreckless drivers everyday doing their thing with impunity knowing too well they could almost get off the hook if they bump someone. Yes, personnaly I find the ruling unfair. But then again, it's their country and they make their own rules.
just need extra brushing! Lol!
7 years for verbal abuse??? ROFL great..he should have rather stabbed them and got 2 years
Exactly genesis, well said.
After all we all say things in anger that we don't really mean. Its human nature! Of course as Muslims we were advised in many places by the Prophet,Peace be upon him, to control our temper. And as mentioned by genesis it is illegal..however I do feel 7years is waaaaay harsh.. As for the motorist I guess the courts ruled it an accident based on evidences which we are not aware of so cannot comment. Guess the family of the victim may have agreed with the sentence too. I hope they were compensated.
Read this news in the morning, and it just kept me wondering. A person in pain may actually mutter words against anyone and anybody..Does he really deserve such a punishment..I have no idea. But again, the law is fair and perhaps there are certain facts not made public due to the sensitiveness. Be safe!
But seriously, I think some common Lebanese cursing can be harmless. I mean when some say "I curse your religion" , which is a word commonly used in the street. I don't think they meant it literally
So Bink if I abuse someone then I should run them over with my landcruiser to ensure they don't report me for blasphemy. I can always claim it was an accident and serve my 3 months and be done with it.
The killing of someone in an "Accident" is less severe than a profane statement against god. They "The Courts" will generally punish the non-believer in a much harsher manner as well.
The speed limit in that area is 80, so either he was going recklessly slow at 55 or he's lying and was going much faster.
If the pedestrian was at fault then why is the driver being penalized 20,000 QR?
i really feel pity for that person in the second case,.......
if it was night and dark most likely
it was not 55 it was 155
probably true the man crossed careless the road.. happens all the time
I'd like to know what was wrong with the Lebanese guy. Just thinking that should I ever say, break a leg or when the time comes that I give birth, I hope people cover their ears cause I'm going to cursing and swearing like you wouldn't believe.
Qatar legislation Was discussed in many previous threads;
http://www.qatarliving.com/node/1128319
This is not the first case where a Lebanese was accused of public cursing ( which is a felony in Qatar). I think by now the Lebanese embassy must conduct an awareness campaign that some common cursing can be interpreted as blasphmouse here.
55kph is not true..as testimony by Tunisian driver in the first case. Arab people never speed their car like that. The truth is they don't care if they hit somebody along the road.
Yes sh3eth rash driving happens by accident. Can you go and say sorry to the victim's family and tell them it was an accident.
one was an accident (could happen to anyone), but the other wasn't. I think it's fair :)
So it will be safer to kill people than to abuse them, makes sense.