up to 3 years in prison in Qatar for non-compliance with the wearing of a mask

Qatar began Sunday to impose the toughest sanctions in the world on people not wearing a mask in public, and up to three years in prison, in an attempt to stem the rapid coronavirus epidemic in the country.

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The government has made it mandatory to wear the mask in public and has indicated that its ruling will apply from Sunday, “until further notice”. The penalties put in place are very heavy for offenders: up to three years in prison and 200,000 rials (around 50,900 euros) in fines.

Nearly 30,000 contaminations with the new coronavirus have been identified in this small Gulf country, or 1.1% of the total population of 2.75 million people.

The virus also killed 15 people. Only the micro-states of San Marino and the Vatican have recorded higher per capita infection rates, according to the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control.

Wearing a mask is currently compulsory in around fifty countries. In Chad, authorities have criminalized not wearing a mask in public. A prison sentence of up to 15 days is provided for offenders.

In Morocco, people not wearing a mask face up to three months in prison and a fine of 1,300 dirhams (120 euros). According to the Qatar authorities, family gatherings during the fasting month of Ramadan may have contributed to the progression of the disease. Restaurants, cinemas, schools, shopping centers and mosques have been closed but construction sites, in particular those linked to the 2022 Football World Cup, have been maintained with the implementation of rules for physical distance and mandatory wearing of masks since April 26.

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