Complaints about the ‘Family Day’ concept at shopping centres and other public places have drawn the attention of a large number of women, who the rule is meant to protect.
Speaking to The Peninsula, the lone female member of the Central Municipal Council (CMC), Sheikha Al Jefairi, said she would draw the attention of her fellow councillors to the issue. “If it is like this, there should be ‘Bachelors Only’ days too. We have to do justice to them as Qatari law gives them their rights. At least two out of seven days should be designated for single workers,” she said.
Jefairi, known for her activism, said: “I am planning to discuss this issue with CMC members. I will also urge for more public places in order to accommodate the increasing numbers of workers and families here.”
The bar imposed on single men in public places is seen as a blatant abuse of human rights by many.
“I do not see any merit in this rule apart from the fact that it helps to control overcrowding in public places,” said Dr Moza Al Malki, a writer and psychologist.
“It’s bad when lots of people are turned away from public places on their off days. Either the authorities should announce these details early or they should make the law clear,” she told The Peninsula.
“I think this bachelor restriction is against human rights,” said a senior British accounts executive. “This rule can affect the reputation of the country which is still developing. The economy of the country is being built by these single men and they are barred from these public places. These men are living far from their families and working hard. But they are not allowed to enjoy their free time in public places. This is not good.”
The ‘some are more equal’ policy of security guards drew sharp criticism. “I have seen that it is the Asians who are normally barred. This is not correct and this barring is confusing. As a westerner, I have never seen this happening in any other place,” she added.
Nada El Hajj, an executive, said the rule is against social norms. “I do not agree with this system. It is not human and is a sort of discrimination. Just because people are living far away from their families doesn’t mean that we have the right to separate them from society. We live together in this country as a community and so should not allow these kinds of barriers to be created in public places.”
Al Malki said: “A law in a state is applicable to all. It should not be imposed based on nationality. If a law segregates nationality, colour, sex or creed, then it is racism. Allowing people of certain nationalities to enter and others to be barred is not fair. Either they let all people enter or they should not let any bachelor enter.”
El Hajj noted: “Shopping is not a family affair. Even bachelors shop for their families back home and for themselves. But the system should be more logical and arranged without any nationality-based segregation. Every nation has good and bad people. We cannot say since a person is from so-and-so country he will harass women. So a more improved notion should be introduced rather than separating people.”
However, some women, in letters to this newspaper, have said they feel much safer with the imposition of the strict rules. Two such correspondents said they had been subjected to unwelcome stares and pushing and shoving when caught up in a group of single men at a plush mall here.
The Pen
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