The Law and FGM/C: Qatar

No studies or surveys about the extent of FGM/C have been undertaken in Qatar.

Other reports state that FGM/C does not occur in Qatar, that it is a practice ‘socially rejected by Qatari citizens and it is not a part of local customs and traditions’, and that ‘there are no confirmed cases of FGM/C occurring within Qatar.’ This suggests that if there are reports of FGM/C in Qatar they may be limited to migrant populations residing in Qatar who originate ‘from countries where FGM/C is traditionally practiced’. Equality Now’s report ‘FGM/C: A Call for A Global Response’ puts Qatar into its category four grouping, which includes ‘Countries where media reports and anecdotal evidence refer to occurrence of FGM/C, but where there is no official data available to confirm the practice.’

There is no specific law relating to criminalisation of those who perform FGM/C. However, some provisions of the Qatar Penal Code could be read as addressing and prohibiting FGM/C practices.