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ISO 9001:2008 CERTIFIED NEWSPAPER 19 April 2014 19 Jumadal II 1435 - Volume 19 Number 6040 Price: QR2 ON SATURDAY SEC flooded with job applications DOHA: The Supreme Education Council (SEC) has received more than 15,000 job applications for the 400 vacancies recently announced in different Independent schools for teaching and non-teaching staff, a local Arabic daily reported yesterday. “Since April 10, after the announcement invit- ing applications for about 400 vacancies, so far we have received over 15,000 job applications,” Abdullah Ahmed Bakhamees, Director for Recruitment at Human Resource Department, SEC, was quoted as saying by Al Watan. Applications have been received from Qataris as well as other Arabs. Obama signs law aimed at barring Iran UN envoy WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama yesterday signed into law a bill barring US visas for UN envoys seen as a threat to American security or having engaged in “terrorist activ- ity” — a measure aimed at Iran’s ambassador. Obama, however, said in a statement that the measure should be taken as an “advisory,” because it could potentially interfere with his “constitutional discretion” to receive or reject ambassadors. The United States said earlier this week that it would not issue a visa to Iran’s chosen UN envoy, Hamid Aboutalebi, because he was involved in the 1979 hostage crisis at the US embassy in Tehran. Foreigner dies of MERS in Saudi Arabia RIYADH: A foreigner has died after she contracted MERS in the Saudi capital, the health ministry announced yesterday, bring- ing the nationwide death toll to 73. The 55-year-old woman, whose nationality was not disclosed, was suffering from chronic illnesses, a statement said. The health ministry said five other people in Riyadh were infected with the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, two of them foreigners. The number of MERS infections in the coun- try stands at 218. Bahraini man dies after WOES being shot by police MANAMA: A Bahraini man died yesterday from shotgun pellet wounds sustained during THE ISSUE clashes with police almost two months ago, rights activists said, becoming the first per- son to be killed in such circumstances since A debate is on in the social the years, which has made things difficult In a bid to help reduce the soaring cost February last year. media on the issue of Qatari for Qatari men. High expectations have of weddings for young, unmarried Qatari Abdul Aziz Al Abbar, 27, was hit by a tear gas also led to more cases of divorce, which has men, the Qatar government, in 2012, canister and shotgun pellets fired by riot police men marrying foreigners. fuelled the trend of Qatari men looking for decided to construct a number of wedding at a funeral procession. One pellet penetrated Though no figures are available foreigners to marry. halls that will be available to Qataris free Al Abbar’s brain and another his eye and he was on how many Qatari men marry In the short term, the phenomenon may of charge. in a coma in hospital until his death. look harmless, but in the long term it can People commenting on social media say foreign nationals, experts are of create complications for such families, and that the expense involved in ‘mehr’, ris- World pays tribute to the view that such cases are on children can be the worst affected. ing standards of living, increasing wedding Experts say Qatari men should think of requirements and costly housing are push- Garcia Marquez the rise. their children before deciding to marry a ing marriage beyond the reach of many. foreigner. They argue that Qatari society Those against marriage to foreigners MEXICO CITY: Presidents, writers and is not yet ready to accept the children of argue that not all families ask for a huge legions of fans paid tribute yesterday to foreign mothers, whose appearance would sum of money. According to them, Qatari Nobel-winning Colombian author Gabriel ataris are divided on this issue, be different from that of other Qataris. men marrying Qatari women is better for Garcia Marquez, the late giant of Latin with some in favour of such mar- “Taking into consideration that our soci- a long-term relationship because of cul- American literature whose work inspired gen- riages while others oppose them. ety is not yet mixed like others, we still tural compatibility between the couples. erations of storytellers. Garcia Marquez, who Q One important reason behind think about the skin colour, hair…. It will Marrying a foreigner may look cost-effec- died on Thursday at age 87, was mourned in PAGEQatari men marrying6 foreigners is finan- affect the children’s psychology and they tive in the short term but such marriages the European cities where he once lived, the cial. In the wealthy Qatari society, mar- will feel that they are discriminated against are likely to cause cultural rifts between United States and his native Colombia that riages can be ruinously expensive. The and will hate society,” Qatari columnist the couples, they say. inspired his surreal stories. expectations of brides have gone up over Faizal Al Marzouqi wrote in a recent piece. See also page 2 See also page 24 THE PENINSULA & AGENCIES www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 APRIL 19, 2014 ON SATURDAY 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Home Many Qataris frown on marrying foreigners BY MOHAMED OSMAN & their opinions on Twitter and “It’s better to get married to “The minimum cost of a simple Yyyy FAZEENA SALEEM Qatari social media in favour of a Qatari woman. But sometimes marriage in Qatar is QR400,000. or against Qatari men marrying there are too many restrictions. This is my experience with my nstances of Qatari men mar- foreigners. Some have also said It’s easy to see foreigners, talk to brother’s marriage, so why should yyyy rying foreigners have once that children of Qatari women them and get to know them. It’s someone take a loan for a mar- again brought to the fore the married to foreigners should be easier than with a Qatari girl. In riage,” read another comment. Idebate about the effect of given citizenship. this case, the husband and wife “Who said it’s less expensive to such marriages on families. “There are many reasons behind come to know each other. Lack of marry foreigner? One will have to Many Qatari nationals believe Qatari men marrying foreigners, understanding before marriage is spend his whole life for the for- that such marriages reduce mar- including the high expenses on one of the negative aspects leading eigner and her family for travel- riage prospects for Qatari women ‘mehar’, living standards, accom- to divorce,” said a commentator. ling and others expenses,” argued The problem of Qataris and even lead to social problems modation and marriage require- Some say the reasons behind a commentator. for the children of such couples. ments, and the marriage becomes Qatari men marrying foreigners “People have the right to take marrying foreigners Others argue that nationality a kind of competition. But when should be considered seriously. a decision on their lives but it should not be taken into consid- it comes to marriage with a non- “People should really under- shouldn’t affect their children in became an issue eration for marriage. Qatari, the expenses are less,” stand the reasons behind Qataris future,” said another comment. after people started Many reasons are cited for said a commentator on a popular marrying foreigners,” urged a Law number 21 of 1989 regu- Qatari men marrying foreigners. Qatari social media. commentator. lates the marriage of Qataris to travelling to foreign These include the “restrictive” Another said, “When a man Some are of the opinion that foreigners. According to the law, traditional way of choosing a bride, a committee, now led by Abdul Al countries. Then a law the expenditure involved in giving Maal as chairman and with mem- was introduced to ‘mehar,’ and the difficulty of find- bers from different government ing a bride. Others say Qatari men institutes and ministries, including address the problem marry a foreigner as their second the Ministry of Awqaf, receives wife because Qatari women don’t applications for such marriages. in 1989. like to be in that position. It examines them and gives its The issue has been widely recommendation to the Ministry Muhsin Ziab Al Suwaidi debated in the social media and of Interior. The final decision is Qatari lawyer other platforms by citizens. taken by the Minister of Interior. The debate is going on against “The problem of Qataris mar- the backdrop of the fact that rying foreigners became an issue Qatari women, who once used to after people started travelling to get married in their teens, are now foreign countries. Then a law was putting off marriage to their late introduced to address the prob- 20s or early 30s to focus on educa- lem in 1989,” said a senior Qatari tion or pursue a career, as a study lawyer, Muhsin Ziab Al Suwaidi. has found. “This law doesn’t prevent any- Only one percent of Qatari one from marrying a foreigner, but women now marry between 15 it regulates and helps to maintain and 19 years of age. At the same the Qatari family fabric as a core time, figures from the Ministry of the Qatari society,” he added. of Development Planning and The Qatar government has Statistics say that 66 of the 106 asked all Arab and Muslim coun- husbands who got divorced in tries not to give their citizens to January 2014 were Qataris.

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