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עמוד:*50
50 * owned club or restaurant in Doha, it was understood that alcohol would not be served, as it was prohibited by law . 40 Since the early 1970 s, Qatar has opened itself a bit more to the West, as seen in the cancellation of the ban on public cinemas and the establishment of a national television system . Nevertheless, the government has maintained its rigid prohibition against the importation, sale, and consumption of alcoholic beverages by the local population, largely due to the insistence of religious leaders . 41 Gambling and the consumption of alcoholic beverages were forbidden by Koranic law, and contemporary newsletters reported that such actions were punished by flogging . 42 Oil companies' foreign employees who were found 'drinking with natives' were expelled . 43 But the strict attitude to alcohol continued to change . Johnny Young, Administrative Officer in Doha ( 1974 - 1977 ) , told in a later interview about provisions for diplomats to buy drinks for personal consumption . There was also an option to acquire intoxicating beverages in some public spaces . For example, one could go to a specific room in one of Doha's hotels, say a password ( "hey, Bernie sent me" ) , to get inside and have a drink . 44 Contemporary tourist wrote about businessmen who had been tipped off about the same room . They needed to ask the hotel manager discreetly for a pass to get in, and the fact that there was a concealed express lift to get up . The same author described the then - ruler, Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani, as involved in everything . Therefore, he probably knew what was going on in his watch and chose to maintain deniability . The softening approach was expressed in another form . The government made an unofficial licensing authority of a European embassy . The Qataris refused to handle liquor permits for foreigners themselves . 45 The ambivalent approach to alcohol also appeared within the ruling family . Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa, a member of the Qatari royal family, was fined a sum Doha to Department of Commerce, Telegram 00050, January, 15 1978, 1978 DOHA00050, Central 40 Foreign Policy Files, 1973 - 79 / Electronic Telegrams, 1978, RG 59 : General Records of the Department of State, National Archives https : / / aad . archives . gov / aad / createpdf ? rid = 9724 & dt = 2694 & dl = 2009 ( accessed June 2022 ) . See also : Doha to Department of State, Telegram 01212, October, 18 1977, 1977 DOHA01212, 19 Central Foreign Policy Files, 1973 - 79 / Electronic Telegrams, 1977, RG 59 : General Records of the Department of State, National Archives https : / / aad . archives . gov / aad / createpdf ? rid = 242110 & dt = 2532 & dl = 1629 ( accessed 19 June 2022 ) . John D . Anthony, Arab Statesofthe Lower Gulf : People, Politics,Petroleum ( Washington : Middle 41 East Institute, 1975 ) , pp . 82,89 . "Trouble in Moslem World : The Hard - Liners", U . S . News & World Report , 26 June 1978, p . 19 . 42 Fred Halliday, ArabiaWithoutSultans : A political Surveyof Instability in the ArabWorld ( New York : 43 Vintage Books, 1975 ) , pp . 459, 461 . Qatar Country Reader, interviewed by : Charles S . Kennedy, TheAssociation for Diplomatic Studies 44 and Training Foreign Affairs , Oral History Project, p . 35 ( unnumbered ) https : / / adst . org / Readers / Qatar . pdf ( Accessed on 22 December 2021 ) . Linda Blandford, Oil Sheikhs ( London : Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1976 ) , pp . 242,247 . 45
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אדמוני, אריאל
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