Human Rights and Freedom in Qatar

https://www.humantruth.info/qatar_human_rights_and_freedom.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2019

#gender #Islam #misogyny #qatar #qatar_gender #Wahabi #women

Qatar State of Qatar [Country Profile Page]
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	103rd best
Location	Asia, The Middle East
Population	2.8m₁
Life Expectancy	79.27yrs (2017)₂

Strict Wahabi Islam serves as an impenetrable barrier against progress. Qatar is amongst the worst places in the world at ensuring human rights and freedom, and it has severe cultural issues when it comes to tolerance and equality. Qatar does better than average in terms of opposing gender inequality₃, commentary in Human Rights Watch reports₄ and in supporting press freedom₅. However Qatar performs less well in most areas. It does worse than average when it comes to combatting modern slavery₆, its average Freedom in the World rating, its nominal commitment to Human Rights₇ and in freethought₈. It falls into the worst-performing 20 for its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice₉ and in LGBT equality in the 2020s₁₀. And finally, it is second-from-the-bottom in the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators)₁₁. There is widespread and serious "legal, cultural, and institutional discrimination against, women and girls, LGBTI+ people, non-Qatari nationals, certain local tribes, and other minorities"₁₂. Hundreds of preventable deaths annually may be attributable to poor labour protection law₁₃. Progress is not helped by the fact that the richest 1% hold 29% of the country's entire income₁₄.

1. Qatar's Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #freedom #gender_equality #human_rights #morals #politics #prejudice #qatar #tolerance

Compared to Asia (2025)₁₅
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₁₅
1	Japan	31.6
2	Taiwan	42.2
3	S. Korea	45.2
	...
38	Palestine	132.1
39	UAE	134.1
40=	Yemen	136.1
41	Qatar	137.2
42	Iraq	138.4
43	Myanmar	138.8
44	Turkmenistan	139.3
45	Pakistan	141.1
46	Syria	141.9
	Asia Avg	110.11
q=51.

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)₁₅
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₁₅
1	Sweden	7.5
2	Netherlands	8.6
3	Denmark	9.0
	...
177	Guinea	135.1
178=	Yemen	136.1
178=	Ethiopia	136.1
180	Qatar	137.2
181	Iraq	138.4
182	Myanmar	138.8
183	Turkmenistan	139.3
184	Cameroon	139.8
	World Avg	90.04
q=198.

The best countries in the world at ensuring human rights, fostering equality and promoting tolerance, are Sweden, The Netherlands and Denmark₁₆. These countries are displaying the best traits that humanity has to offer. The worst countries are Somalia, Eritrea and Saudi Arabia₁₆.

30 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on supporting press freedom, combatting modern slavery, its average Freedom in the World rating, commentary in Human Rights Watch reports, its nominal commitment to Human Rights, speed of uptake of HR treaties, opposing gender inequality, the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators), the year from which women could participate in democracy, its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice, LGBT equality and freethought. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe₁₆, whereas the worst are The Middle East, Africa and Asia₁₆.

For more, see:

" Which are the Best Countries for Human Rights, Equality and Tolerance?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Amnesty International's 2023-23 summary on human rights in Qatar stated:

“Migrant workers including domestic workers continued to face a range of abuses, including wage theft, forced labour, exploitation and abuse despite reforms. Authorities repressed freedom of expression to silence critical voices. Women continued to face discrimination in law and practice and needed the permission of a male guardian to study, travel or marry. Laws continued to discriminate against LGBTI people, putting them at risk of arrest and torture.”
"The State of the World's Human Rights 2022/23" by Amnesty International (2023)₁₇

2. Human Rights & Tolerance Datasets

2.1. Press Freedom

#democracy #freedom #Freedom_of_Speech #Good_Governance #mass_media #politics #UK

Press Freedom Higher is better₅
Pos.		2025₅
1	Norway	92.31
2	Estonia	89.46
3	Netherlands	88.64
	...
75	Malawi	59.20
76	Cyprus	59.04
77	Papua New Guinea	58.35
78	Qatar	58.25
79	Albania	58.18
80	Botswana	57.64
81	Zambia	57.33
82	Niger	57.05
	Asia Avg	39.69
	World Avg	54.65
q=179. Also scored for 2000s-2010s.

Qatar ranks 78th in the world regarding supporting press freedom.

The freedom to investigate, publish information, and have access to others' opinion is a fundamental part of today's information-driven world, and is linked with Freedom of Speech and Good Governance. Scores on the Press Freedom Index are calculated according to indicators including pluralism - the degree to which opinions are represented in the media, media independence of authorities, self-censorship, legislation, transparency and the infrastructure that supports news and information, and, the level of violence against journalists which includes lengths of imprisonments. The index "does not take direct account of the kind of political system but it is clear that democracies provide better protection for the freedom to produce and circulate accurate news and information than countries where human rights are flouted". The rankings are used as one of the datasets of the Social and Moral Development Index₁₈

It must be noted that press freedom is not an indicator of press quality and the press itself can be abusive; the UK suffers in particular from a popular brand of nasty reporting that infuses several of its newspapers who are particularly prone to running destructive and often untrue campaigns against victims. The Press Freedom Index notes that "the index should in no way be taken as an indicator of the quality of the media in the countries concerned".

For more, see:

"Human Rights" by Vexen Crabtree (2026).

Averages by decade for Qatar (for the ranks, lower is better):

Press Freedom	2000s Average	2010s Average
Qatar:	24.57	62.71
World Rank:	98th	⇣ 119th
World Avg:	27.44	65.91

2.2. Slavery in the 2020s

#burundi #eritrea #human_rights #indonesia #slavery

“[In 2017] Qatar... ratified Law No.15 on service workers in the home... which will grant labor protections for the first time to Qatar´s 173,742 domestic workers. The new law guarantees domestic workers a maximum 10-hour workday, a weekly rest day, three weeks of annual leave, an end-of-service payment of at least three weeks per year, and healthcare benefits.
However, the new law is still weaker than the Labor Law and does not fully conform to the International Labour Organization (ILO) Domestic Workers Convention, the global treaty on domestic workers´ rights.”
"World Report 2018" by Human Rights Watch (2018)₁₃

Other serious labour protections are missing however, and there may be hundreds of preventable deaths annually as a result of poor labour protection law in the construction industry, especially regarding provisions to prevent heart attacks during the hottest hours of the day₁₃.

Slavery in the 2020s Lower is better₆
Pos.		Slavery in the 2020s Per 1000₆
1=	Switzerland	0.50
1=	Norway	0.50
3=	Germany	0.60
	...
99=	Bahrain	6.70
99=	Indonesia	6.70
101=	Libya	6.80
101=	Qatar	6.80
103=	Honduras	7.00
103=	Serbia	7.00
105=	Peru	7.10
105=	Iran	7.10
	Asia Avg	9.89
	World Avg	7.15
q=160. Also scored for 2010s-2020s.

With regard to combatting modern slavery, Qatar is positioned 101st in the world.

Modern slavery includes forced labour (often of the under-age), debt bondage (especially generational), sexual slavery, chattel slavery and other forms of abuse, some of which can be surprisingly difficult to detect, but often target those fleeing from warzones, and the poverty-stricken vulnerable.₁₉. Some industries (diamond, clothing, coal) from some countries (Burundi₂₀, Eritrea₂₀, Indonesia₂₁) are a particular concern. The Walk Free Foundation, say in their 2023 report, that 50 million people are living in modern slavery₂₀, and, nearly two-thirds of those in forced labour are employed at the end of supply chains working for large multinationals that creating products consumed by rich countries₂₂.

For more, see:

"The Historical Slave Trade and Modern Slavery" by Vexen Crabtree (2018).

Averages by decade for Qatar (for the ranks, lower is better):

Slavery	2010s Average	2020s Average
Qatar:	1.50	6.80
World Rank:	13th	⇣ 101st
World Avg:	6.54	7.15

2.3. Freedom in the World

#freedom #human_rights #hungary #politics #USA

Freedom in the World Lower is better
Pos.		2024 Score
1=	Norway	1.0
1=	Canada	1.0
1=	Cape Verde	1.0
	...
158=	Macau	5.5
158=	Zimbabwe	5.5
158=	Abkhazia	5.5
158=	Qatar	5.5
162=	Kazakhstan	6.0
162=	Niger	6.0
162=	Kyrgyzstan	6.0
162=	Ethiopia	6.0
	Asia Avg	5.0
	World Avg	3.7
q=205. Also scored for 1970s-2010s.

Qatar is 137th in the world with regard to its average Freedom in the World rating.

Freedom House's long-standing annual report has been running since the 1970s, collecting data on political rights (PR) and civil liberties (CL). Their reports rate countries as "Free", "Partially Free" or "Not Free", however the results here are based on their numerical values. Many countries score the best combination of scores (1 and 1), which is why the table of results show many places equally placed in 1st place. In the past two decades, some well-established democracies like the USA and Hungary have been falling. Whilst most of the world in general is improving rights and freedoms over time, the 2020s has seen some regression.

For more, see:

" Which are the Best Countries for Human Rights, Equality and Tolerance?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Averages by decade for Qatar (for the ranks, lower is better):

Freedom in the World	1970s Average	1980s Average	1990s Average	2000s Average	2010s Average
Qatar:	5.3	5.1	6.4	5.7	5.5
World Rank:	99th	⇡ 97th	⇣ 179th	⇡ 176th	⇡ 156th
World Avg:	4.3	4.2	3.6	3.4	3.4

2.4. Human Rights Watch Comments

#human_rights

Human Rights Watch Comments Higher is better₄
Pos.		2017 Score₄
1=	UK	9
1=	France	9
1=	Germany	9
	...
61=	Papua New Guinea	-3
61=	Belarus	-3
61=	India	-3
61=	Qatar	-3
61=	Tanzania	-3
61=	Ecuador	-3
61=	Colombia	-3
61=	Bolivia	-3
	Asia Avg	-5.0
	World Avg	-1.9
q=123.

When it comes to commentary in Human Rights Watch reports, Qatar ranks 60th in the world.

Human Rights Watch comments concentrate mostly on negative issues, however, they also make positive comments for those countries that engage in human rights defence around the world, or who make improvements at home. By adding up positive and negative comments (including double-points for negatives that involve large scales and crimes against humanity), the Social and Moral Index turns HRW commentary into quantified values. Some countries may be unfairly penalized because HRW have not examined them, and, some countries "get away" with abuses if they manage to hide it, or if it goes unnoticed - a negative point has been given for those countries in which HRW specifically state that access to investigators has been barred. The points were limited to a minimum of -10 because there are some points at which things are so bad, with abuses affecting so many, it is difficult to be more specific about the depths of the issues.

For more, see:

"Human Rights" by Vexen Crabtree (2026).

2.5. Nominal Commitment to HR

#human_rights

Nominal Commitment to HR Higher is better₇
Pos.		2009 Treaties₇
1	Argentina	24
2=	Chile	23
2=	Costa Rica	23
	...
155=	Saudi Arabia	10
155=	Laos	10
155=	Solomon Islands	10
155=	Qatar	10
155=	Vatican City	10
155=	India	10
155=	Fiji	10
155=	Vietnam	10
	Asia Avg	12.7
	World Avg	15.1
q=194.

Regarding its nominal commitment to Human Rights, Qatar ranks 155th in the world.

There are many international agreements on Human Rights, and, many mechanisms by which countries can be brought to account for their actions. Together, these have been the biggest historical movement in the fight against oppression and inhumanity. Or, putting it another way: these are rejected mostly by those who wish to oppress inhumanely. None of them are perfect and many people object to various components and wordings, but, no-one has come up with, and enforced, better methods of controlling the occasional desires that states and peoples have of causing angst for other states and peoples in a violent, unjust or inhumane way. Points are awarded for the number of Human Rights agreements ratified by the country, plus the acceptance of the petition mechanisms for disputes. The maximum possible score in 2009 was 24.

For more, see:

"Human Rights" by Vexen Crabtree (2026).

2.6. HR Treaties Lag

#human_rights #international_law #micronesia #politics #small_islands

HR Treaties Lag Lower is better₂₃
Pos.		2019 Avg Yrs/Treaty₂₃
1	Ecuador	2.15
2	Uruguay	2.25
3	Tunisia	3.65
	...
116	Chad	11.23
117	Slovakia	11.24
118	Burundi	11.27
119	Qatar	11.34
120	Vatican City	11.34
121	Latvia	11.39
122	Angola	11.59
123	Cameroon	11.63
	Asia Avg	10.97
	World Avg	10.02
q=195.

Qatar is 119th in the world when it comes to speed of uptake of HR treaties.

Human Rights (HR) Treaties Lag is a count of how long it took each country to sign each of 11 key HR treaties. From the date of the first signatory of each treaty, all other countries have one point added to their score for each day they delayed in signing. Results are presented as average time in years to sign each one. The lower a country's score, the more enthusiastically it has taken on international Human Rights Treaties - which are, of course, minimal standards of good governance. The slowest are the countries of Micronesia, Melanesia, Australasia and Polynesia all lagged by over 12 years per treaty. The best regions are The Americas, Scandinavia and the Mediterranean.

For more, see:

" Which are the Best Countries for Human Rights, Equality and Tolerance?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

3. Gender Equality Datasets

Qatar is on the way towards ending gender inequality, even though women were prevented equal voting and standing rights until quite late.

Like many Islamic countries, there is widespread and serious social, legal and institutional discrimination women₁₂. For example, in schools, traditionalist patriarchal views are actively taught₁₂: women are good for housework, child-rearing and obedience to men. Women can't pass on nationality to their children on the same basis as men₁₃ but in 2017 it partially rectified this by approving a draft law to allow "permanent residence for children of Qatari women married to non-Qataris"₁₃.

“The 2006 family law discriminates against women in marriage, divorce, nationality, inheritance, and freedom of movement. For example, a woman´s testimony is worth half that of a man in certain types of cases. Inheritance laws discriminate against women; a female heir receives one-half the amount of an equivalent male heir. Women require the consent of their male guardians to get married. Only men can marry out of the Muslim faith, in which case, children are required to be Muslim.”
"The Freedom of Thought Report" by Humanists International (2021)₁₂

“Qatar´s Law No. 22 of 2006 on Family and Personal Status continues to discriminate against women. Under article 36, a marriage contract is valid when a woman´s male guardian concludes the contract and two male witnesses are present. Article 58 states that it is a wife´s responsibility to look after the household and to obey her husband.
Other than article 57 of the family law forbidding husbands from hurting their wives physically or morally, and general provisions on assault, the penal code does not criminalize domestic violence or marital rape.”
"World Report 2018" by Human Rights Watch (2018)₁₃

See:

"Religion Versus Womankind" by Vexen Crabtree (2007)

3.1. Gender Inequality

#gender #gender_equality #human_rights #misogyny #women

Gender Inequality Lower is better₃
Pos.		2022₃
1	Denmark	0.01
2	Norway	0.01
3	Switzerland	0.02
	...
46	China	0.19
47	Ukraine	0.19
48	Bahrain	0.19
49	Qatar	0.20
50	Malaysia	0.20
51	Chile	0.20
52	Bulgaria	0.21
53	Armenia	0.21
	Asia Avg	0.33
	World Avg	0.34
q=166. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Qatar ranks 49th in the world in terms of opposing gender inequality.

The UN Human Development Reports include statistics on gender equality which take into account things like maternal mortality, access to political power (seats in parliament) and differences between male and female education rates. Gender inequality is not a necessary part of early human development. Although a separation of roles is almost universal due to different strengths between the genders, this does not have to mean that women are subdued, and, such patriarchalism is not universal in ancient history. Those cultures and peoples who shed, or never developed, the idea that mankind ought to dominate womankind, are better cultures and peoples than those who, even today, cling violently to those mores.

For more, see:

"Gender Equality" by Vexen Crabtree (2023).

Data starts in 2006, so the 2000s average may be a little skewed due to low number of datapoints. It shows Qatar as amongst the worst 10 countries in the world for Gender Inequality, but since the 2010s things have been consistently improving.

Averages by decade for Qatar (for the ranks, lower is better):

Gender Inequality	2000s Average	2010s Average
Qatar:	0.69	0.52
World Rank:	146th	⇡ 123rd
World Avg:	0.41	0.37

3.2. Gender Biases

#gender #gender_equality #prejudice #women

Gender Biases Lower is better₁₁
Pos.		2022 %₁₁
1	Sweden	31.8₂₄
2	New Zealand	34.4₂₅
3	Australia	37.0₂₅
	...
81	Nigeria	99.5₂₅
82	Malaysia	99.5₂₅
83	Egypt	99.6₂₅
84	Indonesia	99.7₂₅
85	Libya	99.7₂₅
86	Pakistan	99.8₂₅
87	Qatar	99.8₂₄
88	Tajikistan	99.9₂₅
	Asia Avg	94.24
	World Avg	83.93
q=88.

With regard to the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators), Qatar ranks 2nd-worst in the world - only Tajikistan does worse, after .

The Gender Social Norms Index (GSNI) looks at gender biases across seven criteria; the % given here is for the total people who are biased across any of those criteria. By subtracting the value from 100%, you can see that those who do well on this index, you are seeing a count of those who do not appear to be biased against women in any of the criteria, and so, doing well on this index is a very positive sign for any country.

The data was included in UN (2022) with full results in Annex table AS6.7.1; their data stems for ranges between 2005 and 2022, depending on the country in question.

3.3. Year Women Can Vote

#christianity #gender_equality #human_rights #politics #women

Year Women Can Vote Lower is better
Pos.		Year Women Can Vote Year
1	New Zealand	1893
2	Australia	1902
3	Finland	1906
	...
182	Samoa	1990
183	Kazakhstan	1993
184=	Moldova	1994
184=	Oman	1994
186	Qatar	2003
187	Kuwait	2005
188	Saudi Arabia	0
189	Vatican City	0
	Asia Avg	1907
	World Avg	1930
q=189.

Qatar is positioned 2nd-worst in the world, only Kuwait is worse, regarding the year from which women could participate in democracy.

Women now have equal rights in the vast majority of countries across the world. Although academic literature oftens talks of when a country "grants women the right to vote", this enforces a backwards way of thinking. Women always had the right to vote, however, they were frequently denied that right. The opposition to women's ability to vote in equality with man was most consistently and powerfully opposed by the Catholic Church, other Christian organisations, Islamic authorities and some other religious and secular traditionalists.

For more, see:

"Gender Equality" by Vexen Crabtree (2023).

4. Prejudice Datasets

4.1. Anti-Semite Opinions

#antisemitism #christianity #germany #indonesia #jordan #judaism #laos #morocco #netherlands #pakistan #philippines #religion #religious_violence #saudi_arabia #spain #sweden #turkey #UK #vietnam

Anti-Semite Opinions Lower is better₉
Pos.		2014 %₉
1	Laos	0
2	Philippines	3
3	Sweden	4
	...
89	Oman	76
90	Lebanon	78
91=	Morocco	80
91=	Qatar	80
91=	UAE	80
94=	Jordan	81
94=	Bahrain	81
96	Kuwait	82
	Asia Avg	48.2
	World Avg	36.8
q=101.

Qatar is 11th-worst in the world regarding its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice.

Anti-Semitism is the word given to irrational racism against Jews. It's not the same as anti-Judaism (arguments against the religion) nor the same as anti-Zionism (arguments against Israel). In history, influential Christian theologians concocted the arguments against Jews that led, very early on, to widespread Christian action against Jews₂₆_,₂₇_,₂₈_,₂₉. As Christianity rose to power in the West and presided over the Dark Ages, there were repeated violent outbursts against Jews of the most horrible kind. Entire Crusades were aimed at them and the feared Spanish Inquisition paid Jews particular attention. The horror of the holocaust instigated by German Nazis in the 1940s was followed (finally) by the era of European human rights and a movement against racism in general.

The places that are the least anti-Semitical are a few countries of south-east Asia (Laos, the Philippines and Vietnam) and some of the secular liberal democracies of Europe (Sweden, the Netherlands and the UK). The worst countries for antisemitism are Islamic states of the Middle East₃₀, which are undergoing their own Dark Age. Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Morocco, Indonesia, Pakistan and Turkey see the most oppressive and violent actions towards Jews₃₁_,₃₂. Jews in Muslim countries face a host of restrictions and "ceaseless humiliation and regular pogroms"₃₃. In 2004 the European Union Monitoring Center on Racism and Xenophobia reported on violent anti-Jew crimes in the EU and found that that largest group of perpetrators were young Muslim males₃₄.

For more, see:

"Anti-Semitism" by Vexen Crabtree (2017).

It's safe to say that Qatari officialdom is steeped is hateful prejudice. Did the following professor lose his University position after espousing violence-inducing hatred in 2020? Of course not. In Qatar, it's not even a question.

“[In 2020] Dr. Abdul-Jabbar Saeed [at] the state-run Qatar University, cited a hadith in which the Prophet Muhammad said that Judgment Day will not come until the Muslims fight the Jews, who will hide behind rocks and trees, which will in turn call upon Muslims to kill the Jews hiding behind them. Saeed said that victory would only be achieved through sacrifice of all that is precious and through the "blood of the martyrs and over the skulls of the enemies."”
"The Freedom of Thought Report" by Humanists International (2021)₁₂

4.2. LGBT Equality in the 2020s

#2020s #equality #homosexuality #human_rights #ICCPR #intolerance #qatar #sexuality #tolerance

There is no acceptance of LGBT folk in Qatar. Unchallenged and widespread "legal, cultural, and institutional discrimination exists₁₂. No form of gay marriage is recognized, and as sex outside of marriage is illegal, Qatar therefore criminalizes homosexuality.

“Qatar's penal code punishes sodomy with one to three years in prison. Muslims convicted of zina (sex outside of marriage) can be sentenced to flogging (if unmarried) or the death penalty (if married). Non-Muslims can be sentenced to imprisonment.”
"World Report 2018" by Human Rights Watch (2018)₁₃

LGBT Equality in the 2020s Higher is better₁₀
Pos.		LGBT Equality in the 2020s Score₁₀
1=	Germany	4.88
1=	Spain	4.88
3	Portugal	4.81
	...
208	Zambia	-8.40
209	Somalia	-8.49
210	Iran	-9.25
211	Cameroon	-9.45
212	Qatar	-9.59
213	Eritrea	-9.60
214	Mauritania	-9.62
215	Saudi Arabia	-11.30
	Asia Avg	-2.88
	World Avg	-1.21
q=215. Also scored for 1970s-2020s.

When it comes to LGBT equality in the 2020s, Qatar is positioned 4th-worst in the world.

Discrimination against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) folk is rife across the world. Legal restrictions co-exist alongside social stigmatisation and physical violence₃₅. LGBT tolerance and equal rights have been fought for country-by-country against tightly entrenched cultural and religious opposition. Adult consensual sexual activity is a Human Right and protected by privacy laws₃₆. Despite this, it is illegal to be homosexual in over 60 countries (as of 2025)₃₇. The Vexen LGBT Equality Index as part of the Social and Moral Development Index grants points to each country depending on its LGBT stance since the 1970s₃₈_,₃₉. Europe is by far the least prejudiced region, but in the Middle East and Africa cultural prejudice goes hand-in-hand with state intolerance, all too often including physical violence.

For more, see:

" LGBT Rights Across the World: Which are the Best and Worst Countries?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Homosexuality has been illegal in Qatar since 1938 under the British, who applied the Indian Penal Code, with punishments ranging from 1-7 years' imprisonment for male homosexuality, and, under Sharia law, the death penalty technically possible for Muslims (though never enforced). Today, LGBTQ+ people face arrest, harassment, and torture.

ILGA researchers in 2017 found that Qatar had no legal protections against anti-LGBT discrimination, and supportive NGOs are banned. They documented cases of LGBT folk being arrested as a result of discriminatory laws within the previous few years.

Actions taken at the United Nations:

⇣ Opposed a 2003 resolution at the UN Commission tabled by Brazil, on prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and opposed it again in 2004 (it was defeated both times by the Vatican and a collection of Islamic countries).
⇣ Opposed the 2006 Norway Joint Statement on sexual orientation and gender identity at the UN.
⇣ Opposed the 2008 Declaration at the UN General Assemly affirming LGBTQ rights tabled by Argentina.
⇣ Voted against the 2011 Resolution at the UN Human Rights Council posted by South Africa, requesting a report on discrimination and violence against LGBTQ folk.
⇣ Voted against the 2016 UN Human Rights Council Resolution 32/2 to create the Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
⇣ In 2019, voted against renewal of the UN Human Rights Council Independent Expert on discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
⇣ In 2022, voted against renewal of the UN Human Rights Council Independent Expert on discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
⇣ In 2025, voted against renewal of the UN Human Rights Council Independent Expert on discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Averages by decade for Qatar (for the ranks, lower is better):

LGBT Equality	1970s Average	1980s Average	1990s Average	2000s Average	2010s Average	2020s Average
Qatar:	-8.00	-8.00	-8.00	-12.00	-11.10	-9.59
World Rank:	211th	⇡ 209th	⇡ 207th	⇣ 209th	⇣ 214th	⇡ 212th
World Avg:	-2.98	-2.87	-2.60	-2.15	-1.10	-1.21

4.3. Freedom of Thought

#europe #freedom_of_belief #freethought #human_rights #Islam #netherlands #qatar #religion #religion_in_qatar #religious_tolerance #Saudi_Arabia #secularism #the_enlightenment

Qatar belongs to the same puritanical Wahhabi branch of Islam as Saudi Arabia, its neighbour₄₀, which is often at the absolute bottom of freedom of thought indices. In Qatar, there is not much religious activity outside of Wahhabi. Islamic schools are the only permitted kind₁₂ and promoting any other religion other than Islam is illegal₁₂. It does only apply its most restrictive religious laws to locals - so consistently, that in the evening, they shelve their traditional attire and sneak out en masse as the only way of having a free life away from their own oppressive laws. Some Islamist Qataris are unhappy that Islam is not universally applied₄₀ and if they get their way in the future, the upholding of human rights in Qatar could worsen.

Freedom of Thought Lower is better₈
Pos.		2021₈
1=	Belgium	1.0
1=	Taiwan	1.0
1=	Netherlands	1.0
	...
178=	Indonesia	4.5
178=	Syria	4.5
178=	Egypt	4.5
178=	Qatar	4.5
178=	China	4.5
178=	Morocco	4.5
178=	Eritrea	4.5
178=	Malaysia	4.5
	Asia Avg	3.7
	World Avg	3.0
q=196.

Qatar ranks 21st-worst in the world in terms of freethought.

Freedom of Religion and Freedom of Belief are upheld in Article 18 the United Nation's Universal Declaration of Human Rights₄₁. It affirms that it is a basic human right that all people are free to change their beliefs and religion as they wish₄₂. No countries voted against this (although eight abstained). This right was first recognized clearly in the policies of religious toleration of the Netherlands and elsewhere in Europe in the post-enlightenment era₄₃ of the 19th century. In democratic countries, freedom of belief and religion is now taken for granted₄₄. In 2016 a study found that over 180 countries in the world had come to guarantee freedom of religion and belief₄₅. The best countries at doing so are Belgium, The Netherlands and Taiwan₈_,₄₆ and the worst: Afghanistan, N. Korea, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia₈_,₄₇.

Long-term studies have shown that religious violence and persecution both decrease in cultures where religious freedom is guaranteed₄₈. Despite this, there still are many who are strongly against freedom of belief₄₂, including entire cultures and many individual communities of religious believers. Their alternative is that you are not free to believe what you want and they often state that you cannot change religion without being punished (often including the death penalty): this is bemoaned as one of the most dangerous elements of religion₄₉ and "the denial of religious freedoms is inevitably intertwined with the denial of other freedoms"₅₀ and the solution is, everywhere, to allow religious freedom and the freedom of belief.

For more, see:

"Freethought - Freedom of Belief and Freedom of Religion" by Vexen Crabtree (2022).

Once-upon-a-time, extremist Wahhabi preachers would go to Qatar if they were unwelcome in Saudi Arabia, "and Osama bin Laden is said to have stopped by"₄₀. On paper, leaving Islam is punishable by death (although this hasn't been actually put into practice since 1971)₁₂ . Culturally, it is surprisingly liberal for matters not related to family and religion. Although this is partially because the vast majority of people there are not local, but also, because the state permits it.

“With the dawn of a new millennium Qatar has entered a different league. [There are] nightclubs on hotel rooftops [...], bars advertise happy hours on its beaches and a state-owned distribution centre supplies not just liqour but pork. [...] Women drive and there are no religious police forcing businesses to shut during prayer times.”
The Economist (2016)₅₁

But there is definite unhappiness amongst Qataris about the direction that their country has taken. Traditionally, Islamic law is enforced on all people by the state. But Qatar has now become half-free. One confused cleric in an Islamic Center complains that "we're not an Islamic state" and so says that Muslims like him are oppressed₄₀ - precisely because of the absence of restrictive enforcements. Native Qataris are still banned from bars and liquor stores, and Christian churches cannot display crucifixes and instead have signs that say "Religious Centre"₄₀. So the Cleric has it wrong. Qatar is still a theocracy, and Qataris are still oppressed, by their own religious doctrine. His true complaint is that Islam isn't enforced strictly enough on those who do not want it - Qataris sneak out of their national dress and buy alcohol secretly₄₀, en masse, and he feels powerless to stop them - good!

To end oppression, the state should embrace a more honest, secular outlook, where all are free to adhere to religious restrictions in accordance with their beliefs - the cleric, like all in Qatar, are free to refrain from alcohol in accordance with the Quran. But they should also be free to buy it, when they wish.