Qatar is a Middle Eastern country located on the shores of the Persian Gulf, sharing a border with only Saudi Arabia. In early 2017, the total population of Qatar was 2.6 million, with 3,00,000 of them Qatari citizens and 2.3 million expatriates. The area of Qatar is 11,581 square kilometers. The area of Qatar is 11,581 square kilometers. The official language is Arabic, but English is widely spoken. Ethnically only 40% Arab, with notable 21% Indian, 12% Bangladeshi, 9% Egyptian, 5% Sri Lankan, 5% Pakistani etc.
Qatar is constitutionally committed to providing free education and healthcare. The Authority shall endeavor to encourage investment and provide necessary assurances and facilities for the same. Citizens are equal in rights and duties. Every citizen is equal in the eyes of law.
These are positive aspects. Now let's discuss the negative aspects.
Several times in many articles of the Constitution, vague terms like 'according to the law.', Social Justice, Morality etc. have been used - i.e. the interpretation of anything can be changed at a moment's notice. What is 'ethical' in your eyes, may not be in Emir's eyes.
Qatar is being governed according to Islamic Sharia. The head of state is permanently 'Emir'. After his death, any male member of the family will become the Emir. There are 30 members elected to Parliament, and 15 nominated by Emir. Only the Emir can give final approval to any law passed by the Parliament. The head of government is the Amir himself. Almost all countries in the Middle East are like this. Islam is the tool to protect the hereditary monarchy.
Admirable Articles of Qatar's Constitution
Article 23
The State takes care of public health and provides the means of protection and treatment from diseases and epidemics, according to law.
Article 25
Education is one of the basic pillars for the progress of society. The State sponsors and takes care of it, and endeavors to spread it and make it public.
Article 27
Private property is inviolable. No one can be deprived of his property, save for public utility and in the cases prescribed by law and in the manner provided for therein provided that he is fairly compensated.
Article 31
The State encourages investment and endeavors to provide guarantees and facilities needed to it.
Article 34
Citizens are equal in public rights and duties.
Article 35
People are equal before the law. There shall be no discrimination against them because of sex, race, language, or religion.
Article 39
The accused is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, where the due processes of the law are provided and secured for the practice of defense.
Facts of Qatar's Constitution
Article 1
Qatar is an Arab State, sovereign and independent. Its religion is Islam, and the Islamic Law is the main source of its legislations. Its system is democratic, and its official language is the Arabic language. The people of Qatar are part of the Arab Nation.
Article 8
The rule of the State is hereditary in the family of Al Thani, and in the male descendents of Hamad Ben Khalifa Ben Hamad Ben Abd-Allah Ben Jassim. Inheritance of the rules goes to the son designated by the Emir as Heir Apparent.
If there is no son, the rule passes to the family member designated by the Emir as Heir Apparent, and in this case, the rule inheritance goes to his male descendents.
All provisions pertinent to the State rule and its inheritance are regulated by special law to be issued within a year from the date this Constitution is put into force and to have a constitutional aspect.
Article 9
The Emir appoints the Heir Apparent by a Royal Order after consultation with the Ruling Family and the notables in the Country. The Heir Apparent must be a Moslem, from a Qatari Moslem mother.
Article 10
On his appointment before this Emir, the Heir Apparent takes the following oath:
"I swear by God, the Great, to respect the Islamic Law, the Constitution, and the Law, and to maintain the independence of the Country, and to safeguard its territorial integrity, and to protect the People's freedoms and interests, and to be loyal to the Homeland and the Emir."
Article 11
The Heir Apparent assumes the powers of the Emir and performs his functions on his behalf during the Emir's absence outside the Country or in the case of temporary impediment.
Article 12
The Emir may, by a Royal Order, assign the exercise of some of his powers and the assumption of some of his functions to the Heir Apparent. The Heir Apparent presides over the sessions of the Council of Ministers which he attends.
Article 13
Taking into consideration the provisions of the two preceding articles, when it is impossible for the Heir Apparent to represent the Emir, the Emir may appoint, by a Royal Order, his Deputy from the Ruling Family to perform some of his powers and functions. If the appointee occupies a post or performs a job in any institution, he ceases to perform his functions during his deputation of the Emir.
Immediately after being appointed, the Emir Deputy takes, before the Emir, the same oath taken by the Heir Apparent.
Article 14
A council named "Council of the Ruling Family" is established by a Decision of the Emir. The Emir appoints its members from the Ruling Family.
Article 15
The Council of the Ruling Family determines the vacancy of the Emir's post in case of his death or his total disability to perform his functions. The Council of Ministers and the Advisory Council (Majlis-al Shura) announce the vacancy of the post following a secret joint session and declare the Heir Apparent as Emir of the Country.
Article 16
If the Heir Apparent is less than eighteen years of age when declared as the Country's Emir, according to the Gregorian calendar, a Regency Council established by the Council of the Ruling Family assumes the steerage of ruling.
The Regency Council is composed of a Chairman and a number of Members not less than three and not more than five. The Chairman and the majority of the Members shall be from the Ruling Family.
Article 17
The Emir's financial remunerations, as well as the funds allocated for gifts and assistances, are determined annually by a decision made by the Emir.
Article 51
The right of inheritance is inviolable and is governed by the Islamic Law.
Article 61
The Legislative Power is exercised by the Advisory Council in the manner specified in this Constitution.
Article 62
The Executive Power is exercised by the Emir, and is assisted by the Council of Ministers in the manner specified in this Constitution.
Article 67
The Emir exercises the following functions:
● Shaping the State's public policy, with the assistance of the Council of Ministers.
● Ratifying the laws and promulgating them. No law may be promulgated, unless ratified by the Emir.
● Inviting the Council of Ministers to convene, as required by public interest. He presides over the sessions he attends.
● Appointing civil and military employees, and terminating their services according to the law.
● Accrediting heads of diplomatic and consular missions.
● Pardoning the punishment, or commuting it, according to the law.
● Granting civil and military badges of honor according the law.
● Establishing and organizing the ministries, and other government agencies, and determining their jurisdiction.
● Establishing and organizing the agencies which assist him with opinion and consultation for directing the State's high policies, supervising them, and determining their jurisdiction.
● Any other functions, according to this Constitution or Law.
Article 74
The Emir takes the following oath prior to the performance of his functions, in a special session of the Advisory Council:
"I swear by God, the Great, to respect the Islamic Law, the Constitution, and the Law, protect the Country's independence, safeguard the integrity of its territory, and defend the People's freedoms and interests."
Article 77
The Advisory Council consists of forty-five (45) members. Thirty (30) of them are elected by public secret direct ballot, and the Emir appoints the other fifteen (15) members from the ministers or others. The membership of the appointed members in the Advisory Council is terminated by their resignation or relief.
Article 92
Before performing their duties, members of the Advisory Council take the following oath before the Council and in a public session:
"I swear by God, the Great, to be loyal to the Homeland and the Emir, and to respect the Islamic Law, the Constitution, and the Law, and to heed for the People's interests, and to perform my job with honesty and integrity."
Article 104
The Emir may dissolve the Advisory Council by a decree stating the reasons for the dissolution. The Council may not be dissolved for the same reasons another time. If the Council is dissolved, elections for the new Council must be conducted at a date not to exceed six months from the dissolution date.
Until the election of the new Council is conducted, the Emir assumes the Legislative Power with the assistance of the Council of Ministers.
Article 106
● Every bill passed by the Advisory Council is submitted to the Emir for approval.
● If the Emir decides not to approve the bill, he returns it to the Council within three months from the date of its submission together with the reasons of disapproval.
● If the bill is returned within the period specified in the preceding paragraph, and is passed once again by the Advisory Council by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the Council's members, the Emir approves it and issues it. The Emir may, in case of imperative necessity, suspend the implementation of this law for the period he deems necessary to realize the high interests of the Country. If the bill is not passed by two thirds (2/3) majority, it may not be reconsidered during the same session.
