Qatar prohibits possession of unlicensed weapons

Qatari official sources said that a law was issued to punish individuals who hold unlicensed weapons by imprisonment.

Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad Ben Khalifa issued a decree yesterday banning possession of weapons, arms and bombs or buying them without a license, after October 26.

Anyone who buys unlicensed weapons will be punished with prison sentences ranging from 7 to 14 years, according to the new law.

In press statements, sources said that nearly every family, possesses a weapon, and that people with means go to Pakistan, Afghanistan or the USA to buy weapons under fishing licenses, where they transported back to the country.

According to the law, persons should be at least 21 years old to have a renewable license for five years, while people who suffer from mental illness or have criminal history or drug addictions will have no right to obtain a license to possess a weapon.