Qatar: The Official Gazette Outlines Three Controls for Remote Referendum

Al Arab, 3 November 2024: The Justice Ministry has published issue No. 16 of the Official Gazette for the year 2024, which included a number of decrees and decisions related to the referendum on constitutional amendments.

The most prominent items in the Official Gazette were Qatar Decree No. 87/2024 calling on citizens to vote in the referendum, the draft constitutional amendments for 2024 to the Permanent Constitution of Qatar, and Qatar Decision No. 1/2024 of the Chairman of the General Committee for the Referendum on naming the Chairman and members of the General Committee for the Referendum on the draft constitutional amendments for 2024 to the Permanent Constitution of Qatar.

The Official Gazette included three major decisions issued by the Chairman of the General Committee for the Referendum.

Qatar Decision No. 2/2024 has established the Executive Committee responsible for preparing for the referendum on Qatar’s 2024 draft constitutional amendments, as well as its sub-committees and their respective tasks.

Qatar Decision No. 2/2024 has addressed the formation of referendum committees for the draft amendments, specifying their tasks, procedures, and headquarters.

Lastly, Qatar Decision No. 4/2024 has set out the regulations and procedures for conducting the referendum remotely.

Article 1 of Qatar Decision No. 4/2024 issued by the Chairman of the General Committee for the Referendum, outlines the regulations and procedures for conducting the (remote) referendum on the draft constitutional amendments to the Permanent Constitution of the State of Qatar.

It specifies that the referendum process will proceed as follows:

First, regarding the procedures and controls for the (remote) voting process, an electronic remote voting system will be implemented via the (Metarash 2) application.

This system allows all Qatari citizens, both inside and outside Qatar, who are at least eighteen years old on the day of the referendum, to participate.

They will cast their votes on the draft constitutional amendments through a general referendum scheduled for Tuesday, 3/5/1446 AH, corresponding to 05/11/2024 AD.

The (remote) voting service on (Metarash 2) will open at 7:00 a.m. and close at 7:00 p.m.

To cast a vote, the individual must access the (Metarash 2) application, select the “Vote” icon, and accept the terms and conditions.

Once identity verification is completed, they can choose between “Yes” or “No” to express their opinion on the draft amendments. The vote is finalised by selecting the “Confirm” icon.

Second, for the (remote) vote counting process, the Executive Committee will oversee the counting procedure after the voting period ends.

Votes cast through the (remote) application will be electronically sorted into “Yes” and “No” groups.

The Chairman of the Technical Committee will then compile and verify the results from both (remote) voting and electronic voting, document them in an official record, and submit them to the Chairman of the Executive Committee.

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Qatar: Tightens Penalties for Crimes

Al Watan, 28 October 2024: According to the recent amendments to Qatar Law No. 11/2004, which were published in the Official Gazette, and the addition of new articles to the law.

Legal experts have confirmed that these changes came to criminalise acts that were not previously criminalised or punishable, as well as to criminalise some newly emerging acts committed through technological devices that have become widespread.

The amendments also aim to tighten penalties for some crimes, ensuring that Qatar Law No. 11/2004 keeps pace with reality and acts as a deterrent to crimes.

Legal experts have pointed out that the continuous development in Qatari society, the increase in population, and economic growth are among the factors that necessitated amendments to the provisions of Qatar Law No. 11/2004.

They have stressed that the amendments aim to combat crimes that are alien to society and tighten penalties for some crimes that have recently spread in society, such as publishing photos and documents on social media without the owner’s permission.

The experts have indicated that electronic development has led to a number of new crimes, all of which require articles in the Penal Code to be addressed and eliminated.

It was explained that while Qatar is characterised by security and safety, Qatar Law No. 11/2004 needs to undergo periodic amendments to suit the times.

They have pointed out that the amendments to the law came to combat phenomena that harm society and make criminal think twice before committing any crime.

Imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, and a fine not exceeding fifty thousand riyals, or one of these two penalties, shall be imposed on anyone who intentionally assaults the physical integrity of another by any means, and the assault results in illness or incapacity for personal work for a period exceeding twenty days.

The penalty shall be imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years, and a fine not exceeding seventy-five thousand riyals, or one of these two penalties if the act was committed with premeditation or lying in wait, or by more than one person.

Imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years, and a fine not exceeding fifty thousand riyals, or one of these two penalties, shall be imposed on anyone who causes the death of a person by mistake if it was due to negligence, recklessness, lack of caution, or non-observance of laws or regulations.

In all cases, the offender shall be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year, and a fine not exceeding twenty thousand riyals or one of these two penalties, if the victim’s heir pardons or accepts the blood money.

The following texts have been added to Qatar Law No. 11/2004:

Imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years, and a fine not exceeding one hundred thousand riyals or one of these two penalties, shall be imposed on anyone who enters or exits the State illegally, and anyone who assists in any way in the acts of preparation, facilitation, or completion of the commission of this crime.

The penalty shall be doubled if the perpetrator is accused of a crime or has been sentenced or ordered to be arrested, banned from travelling or denied entry.

Imprisonment for three years shall be imposed on anyone who broadcasts, facilitates the broadcasting, or uses, even in private, a recording, document, or photos obtained through any of the acts specified in the preceding article, without the consent of the concerned party.

The penalty shall be imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years for anyone who threatens to disclose any matter obtained through any of the aforementioned acts, to compel a person to perform or refrain from an act.

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QICDRC Case Digest: January – June 2024 Edition

Qatar: Justice Ministry Launches New Package of Online Services

The Peninsula, 23 October 2024: The Justice Ministry has launched a new electronic package comprising ten service programs and systems that would plainly enhance the performance of a variety of administrative units.

The service, in question, would facilitate the public access to online services easily and optimise the service system the ministry offers to the public and stakeholders outside the ministry. Accordingly, a new system of online state case administration has been launched to streamline the operation of all users, in addition to providing an external gateway that enables government authorities in Qatar to follow-up on their filed cases and apply for submitting lawsuits in accordance with an electronic workflow system that starts from the department and reaches the internal portal of the State Cases Administration.

A new internal portal has also been launched to help the administration automate all internal procedures, according to a set of electronic workflows and interactive monitoring dashboards and linking to the Government Data Exchange portal (GDX), which enables data transfer to the new system.

To enhance the performance in the Legal Affairs Department and upgrade the mechanism for the meetings of the lawyers admission committee, a portal for managing the meetings of this committee has been launched as well.

For the first time this portal will offer new mechanisms for managing the meetings of a variety of sub-committees, as registered members will be able to vote on meeting agenda items and any new matters, especially the meeting minutes electronically in case the meeting cannot be held in person.

Additionally, the portal offers a mechanism for receiving and responding to correspondence from lawyers submitted through the online portal.

Moreover, in order to update the work system at the Real Estate Registration Department that would be reflected positively on the services afforded to the public more expeditiously, the department has launched an online inspection’s system, that manages the inspection processes pertaining to the department.

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Qatar: Law Amending Financial Centre Provisions Issued

Al Sharq, 21 October 2024: The Emir of the country has issued Qatar Law No. 16/2024 amending some provisions of the Qatar Financial Centre Law issued by Qatar Law No. 7/2005.

The law has stated its implementation and publication in the Official Gazette.

The Qatar Financial Centre has stated that the amendment aims to accelerate judicial procedures for resolving disputes efficiently and with high quality, ensuring the rights of litigants and achieving swift justice.

It also seeks to reduce the litigation period and enhance investor confidence.

This follows the amendments to the Qatar Financial Centre Law, issued by QFC Law No. 7/2005, and Qatar Law No. 15/2021, which amended some provisions of Qatar Law No. 34/2005 regarding Free Zones.

These changes extended the judicial jurisdiction of the Qatar International Court and the Regulatory Court to include cases occurring in the Free Zones of the State and to consider appeals against decisions issued by the Free Zones Authority.

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Qatar: New Incentives and Parental Support in Qatar’s Civil Service Law

Mubasher, 9 October 2024: Qatar’s Council of Ministers has approved a comprehensive Water Law and new regulations for the protection of industrial designs and models.

The Water Law aims to ensure water security, conserve water resources, protect them from depletion or pollution, enhance the efficiency of water services and their usage, maintain water quality standards, and ensure proper maintenance and operation of water facilities.

The law was drafted by the Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa) and will now be referred to the Shura Council for further deliberation.

Additionally, the Council approved the executive regulations for Qatar Law No. 10/2020; on the protection of designs and industrial models.

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Qatar: New Incentives and Parental Support in Qatar’s Civil Service Law

Al-Sharq, October 2024: The Qatari Cabinet has approved amendments to Qatar Law No. 15/2016 on Civil Human Resources, aimed at enhancing the work environment, performance evaluation, and work-life balance for government employees.

The draft law will be referred to the Shura Council for further deliberation.

The amendments focus on introducing additional performance-based incentives, linking remuneration and promotions to merit and eligibility criteria, improving recruitment and retention mechanisms, implementing a competency-based performance system, and supporting working parents by promoting family stability.

These measures are designed to boost individual and institutional performance, govern rewards equitably, and achieve a balance between professional and family life for civil servants, aligning with Qatar’s National Vision 2030 and the proposals from various government agencies.

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Qatar: Electronic Payment Compliance Enforcement by Commerce Ministry

Al-Sharq, 29 September 2024: The Commerce and Industry Ministry is carrying out an organised campaign in markets across the country to monitor and control violating stores that do not provide electronic payment methods as a service to customers.

The concerned ministry has detected numerous violations and will close stores that have not met the conditions within the previously granted deadline.

It is also notifying other violating stores for the first time and giving them a specific deadline to rectify their situation.

After that, stricter measures will be taken, including closure, violations, and financial fines for violators.

The new requirements are verified through field tours conducted by ministry inspectors to monitor various markets across the country.

During inspection tours, compliance with relevant instructions is monitored.

Additionally, there is a dedicated hotline for receiving public complaints, through which the relevant authorities receive various complaints, including stores’ non-compliance with providing electronic payment services, which is a violation punishable by law.

It is worth noting that the Commerce and Industry Ministry has issued a decision, in addition to instructions from the Qatar Central Bank, requiring commercial establishments operating in the country at all levels to provide one of the electronic payment services.

This aims to facilitate daily banking transactions for the public and beneficiaries and enable consumers to benefit from this service, which is their right to pay for purchases or service fees using credit cards, cash, or ATM cards, without imposing any additional fees or commissions on the prices of goods or services.

Equal treatment must be ensured between those who pay in cash and those who pay through electronic payment cards, without any additional charges, regardless of the method chosen by the consumer.

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