a lot of western couples live together and don't seem to be bothered by the law, however it is playing russian roulette to try, when at any time u can be arrested.
see attached story from gulf times today:
Kissing lands couple in trouble
By Nour Abuzant
A ‘MARRIED’ couple was sentenced in absentia to a year in prison for kissing in public and conducting an illicit relationship.
The Muslim woman and her Christian ‘husband’, both from Lebanon, skipped the country before the trial concluded after being told the State did not recognise their marriage, which took place in Cyprus.
Despite their inter-faith union not being an issue in their home country, Doha authorities ruled it unlawful – even though the woman was apparently given a residence visa based on the sponsorship of her ‘husband’.
The couple landed in trouble after a Qatari family called the police to complain they were kissing on the Corniche in April.
The police officer who attended the call said he found the two in an “indecent position” and when he confronted them, the woman screamed that they were married.
The officer insisted that their marital status bore no relevance to the offence.
During interrogation, the arrested man, 27, claimed he had done nothing more than place his hand on the shoulder of his 24-year-old ‘wife’ who had arrived in Qatar 10 days earlier. She told the public prosecution that she did not realise that such an act was illegal in Qatar.
It was during their trial that the tricky subject of the pair’s marriage came up for debate.
The couple presented their marriage certificate to the court. However, it was ruled to be invalid in Qatar.
The court admitted that a residence visa had been issued based on the fact that the two were husband and wife, but the country had the right to cancel that at any time if information came to light requiring such action.
The court also admitted there was no evidence of malicious intent to hide the couple’s differing religions and that their documents were authentic. However, the court made it clear that Qatar could not accept the marriage within the constraints of its own laws.
The couple’s lawyer said there would be no appeal lodged against the verdict as his clients had left the country after a travel ban had been lifted.
a lot of western couples live together and don't seem to be bothered by the law, however it is playing russian roulette to try, when at any time u can be arrested.
see attached story from gulf times today:
Kissing lands couple in trouble
By Nour Abuzant
A ‘MARRIED’ couple was sentenced in absentia to a year in prison for kissing in public and conducting an illicit relationship.
The Muslim woman and her Christian ‘husband’, both from Lebanon, skipped the country before the trial concluded after being told the State did not recognise their marriage, which took place in Cyprus.
Despite their inter-faith union not being an issue in their home country, Doha authorities ruled it unlawful – even though the woman was apparently given a residence visa based on the sponsorship of her ‘husband’.
The couple landed in trouble after a Qatari family called the police to complain they were kissing on the Corniche in April.
The police officer who attended the call said he found the two in an “indecent position” and when he confronted them, the woman screamed that they were married.
The officer insisted that their marital status bore no relevance to the offence.
During interrogation, the arrested man, 27, claimed he had done nothing more than place his hand on the shoulder of his 24-year-old ‘wife’ who had arrived in Qatar 10 days earlier. She told the public prosecution that she did not realise that such an act was illegal in Qatar.
It was during their trial that the tricky subject of the pair’s marriage came up for debate.
The couple presented their marriage certificate to the court. However, it was ruled to be invalid in Qatar.
The court admitted that a residence visa had been issued based on the fact that the two were husband and wife, but the country had the right to cancel that at any time if information came to light requiring such action.
The court also admitted there was no evidence of malicious intent to hide the couple’s differing religions and that their documents were authentic. However, the court made it clear that Qatar could not accept the marriage within the constraints of its own laws.
The couple’s lawyer said there would be no appeal lodged against the verdict as his clients had left the country after a travel ban had been lifted.