Qatar’s restrictive laws against women are finally under the spotlight

Expect to hear more about the plight of women in the World Cup host country, writes David Harding

Every major global event brings with it an investigation of what life is like in the host country (Getty)

Plenty has been said and written about human rights in Qatar in recent years but one issue has barely featured in any of the discussions – the lives of local women.

That might be about to change.

Human Rights Watch is expected soon to publish a report focusing on the issue of the country’s restrictive guardianship laws, which allow fathers or male relatives to prevent unmarried Qatari women up to the age of 25 from travelling or studying abroad.