On 5 November, Qatar held a rare constitutional referendum. The vote, open to citizens aged 18 and older, saw a high turnout of 84 per cent. Among the valid votes cast, 90.6 per cent supported the proposed changes. These revisions included updates to 14 existing articles, the introduction of two new articles, and the removal of three. The most notable change is the elimination of elections for two-thirds of the members of the Shura Council, Qatar’s advisory legislative body. As a result, the council will return to a fully appointed body, following only one election in 2021. This referendum was Qatar’s second in history, with the first occurring in 2003, when the country voted to approve its Constitution.

Sources: Qatar News Agency (1), Qatar’s Shura Council, Qatar News Agency (2), Office of the Emir of Qatar, Qatar News Agency (3)

On 24 June, Qatar's Shura Council proposed labour reforms, including the reintroduction of exit permits for domestic workers. The Council's reintroduction is intended to address citizen complaints about domestic workers leaving the country without informing their employers in advance. Under the proposed regulations, domestic workers would be required to obtain their employers' permission before leaving the country, with the application process facilitated through an online portal. Workers would need to submit their requests at least five days in advance and could appeal if permission is denied. Rights groups have raised concerns that, if the motion is accepted, it would undermine Qatar's earlier reforms in this area and increase the vulnerability of domestic workers to employer abuse, such as wage theft, which is already a prevalent issue in the country. Despite the visa sponsorship (kafala) system largely remaining unchanged, reforms made in 2018 and 2020 allowed most migrant and domestic workers in Qatar to leave the country without needing formal permission from their employers. If introduced, the new system would work for the authorities to manage the exit application and approval process while also identifying unauthorized departures. 

Sources: The Shura Council of Qatar, Qatar News Agency, Migrant Rights  

In Belgium, investigators looking into graft in the European Union (EU) have alleged that several members of the European Parliament accepted bribes from Qatar in return for furthering the country’s interests in EU communications and decision-making. The scandal has spurred increased scrutiny of the EU institutions and their vulnerability to corruption and foreign influence. The scandal was uncovered in an investigation by the Belgian State Security intelligence aimed at identifying instances of interference in public decision-making. 

Sources: The Brussels Times, Politico, Euronews

A contentious provision has been added to the conditions for granting foreign media accreditation, ahead of the 2022 Men’s Football World Cup. The provision prohibits journalists from filming or photographing in “residential properties, private businesses and industrial zones”. A previous ban on reporting which would harm “Qatari public discipline, behaviour or Islamic customs” had been lifted. However, with Qatar in the spotlight over its documented mistreatment of LGBTQIA+ individuals and migrant workers, the new provision has been criticized as an attempt to prevent interviews with those groups and thereby coverage of sensitive topics.  

Sources: Reporters Without Borders, The Guardian, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch