To never want to visit Qatar?

But that's because you're the work permit holder. The situation is not the same where the work permit holder is male and the sponsoree is female.

Yes, exactly this. I have been to Dubai once (not for a holiday) and would never again go to the UAE or Qatar because both places are quite frankly founded on modern slavery.

And housewives do not need their husbands to be with them, not ever. It's just not true. Maybe 20 years or so ago but that's not how it is. Im sorry but that's just not true. Hate the ME by all means, raise concerns about genuine issues but at least research the facts.

You absolutely do not need your husband to accompany you to anything. I am sponsor to mine because I'm the breadwinner and I don't have to accompany him either. In fact, I am not allowed to have my salary paid into a joint bank account and health insurance has to be separate so that's wrong too. It's not perfect but it's an interesting, diverse and largely tolerant nation. I have lived here for 21 years so feel free to ask me what it is actually like if you want to know anything. I work in construction so have a bit more insight into the working conditions and life experiences of many different types of employees.

I think what the poster means by guardianship is women are beneath men. To get the Internet fitted you need to take your husband to the store, to go to the hospital you need to take your husband with you to be put into the system, to get my sons eyes checked (children can only get there eyes checked in hospital), once again my husband would have to come with us to get him an appointment. No joint bank accounts, only allowed in husbands name. Almost everything had to be done with my husband there. Obviously if you are working in Qatar as a single woman this doesn't apply to you but as a non working wife I could do fuck all without my husband being there. Extremely frustrating for both of us.

I live in Sydney and won’t fly Qatar because of what happened the Australian women. Friends think I am crazy but I avoid any stopovers in the Middle East tbh after an unpleasant experience transiting through Abu Dhabi (and if any of you can access the Sydney Morning Herald online you can read about a teenager’s nightmare experience with Etihad trying to bump her in Abu Dhabi a few days ago). I will only do Qantas or Singapore Airlines to Europe.

Here is a link to the forced gynaecological exam of Australian women at gunpoint.

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/oct/21/australian-women-sue-qatar-airways-over-forced-examinations-at-doha-airport

I am sure there was an English schoolgirl stripped search and made to remove her tampon at school by police. Because a teacher “smelled weed”.

And that happened right here in the good old UK (London).

I am sure similar stories are available in France and Spain too.

Qatar is not an emirate. It’s an entirely different country.

You are not unreasonable to want to go to Qatar.

The reasons are odd (I went to Qatar for work and not sure what you are talking about Guardianship?)

You can choose whatever country you wish to visit for whatever reason.

I 100% agree !

We will never go, it holds zero appeal for the many humanitarian, ethical and political reasons. They can pay for adverts all they like, and buy world cups etc, but I will never go.

I had a lovely holiday in Doha visiting a friend who was working there, and felt very safe as a single woman. Saying that, there is a weird, tense energy there and I wouldn’t hurry back.

I think the techs need to look at the Qatar ads. It’s made Mumsnet virtually unusable.

Good luck.

Agree OP, there is not a single aspect of the place that appeals to me, ethically, environmentally, politically, or aesthetically. If mumsnet have any say over where their ad revenue comes from perhaps they should have a think about promoting the place if they want to retain any credibility of being a feminist forum.

I have been there en route to an other destination. It’s stricter than I thought it would be - extremely hot. There was an undercurrent of tension. I wouldn’t rush back.

The moral difference is a fairly good reason to put you off a place. And you aren't likely to undergo a forced gynaecological exam going to Spain or France.

Next door neighbours' daughter worked as a teacher in one of the ME countries for a few years. They thought she was weird for not having a servant. You really could not pay me to go there.

Same. A few of the stories I’ve heard recently involved people who were just connecting in Dubai. The risk is relatively low but it doesn’t seem worth it.

Yeah I’m not keen on any of those countries after that London 18 year old was recently imprisoned in Dubai for a year for having sex with a (British) 17 year old.

There was a thread on here about it and I saw lots of other crazy stories like the man who had a grain of weed found on his shoe while connecting at Dubai airport and was jailed!

It’s all very well people saying their country their rules but there’s all kinds of sex trafficking and abuse of workers going on that authorities endorse or turn a blind eye to, but then they talk about the rule of law when it suits them.

It wouldn’t really bother me. Islam is a sister religion of The Book and any devout Muslim state is little different morally to a devoutly Christian one. Weird exceptions and things happen in every country, you can’t let it scare you off what is otherwise a perfectly fine and civilised country.

There are too many reasons not to want to go there, ever.

I'm sure I watched a documentary about their version of gumtree and you were able to buy and sell domestic staff(they called them servants) they were mostly from the Philippines if I remember correctly and had the most awful lives.

I have often travelled from Sydney to European destinations. I would no longer travel on an airline that makes a stop in the Middle East or is associated with any countries there.

Yes, the other routes are probably considerably more expensive - or were last I looked - but I decided it would be worth it to me.