Qatar: Jail, Hefty Fine If Not Wearing Face Masks
Leaving your house without a face mask could send you to prison for three years in Qatar, where the government has threatened violators with jail time and a fine of up to $55,000.
Many governments around the world have mandated the wearing of face masks to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, but few have threatened imprisonment for violating the order.
Qatar has so far recorded more than 30,000 COVID-19 cases. With its population of about 2.7 million people, the Gulf country has one of the world’s highest per capita number of reported cases.
Qatar’s Cabinet put its severe legal repercussions into effect on Sunday “until further notice.”
Kuwait, as well as Morocco, have warned that people who do not wear face masks in public will face prison – both countries giving a penalty of a three-month maximum jail sentence.
Other Gulf countries have also implemented mandatory face mask orders for people in certain circumstances, with violators facing financial penalties — but no prison time.
