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The weekly Cabinet meeting presided over by HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani issued a draft law amending some provisions of the criminal law, issued as Law No 11 of 2004, after examining the recommendation of the Advisory Council.
The amendment stipulates that it would be a punishable offence for anyone to publicly insult the State’s flag, a flag of a non-hostile country, a flag of an international organisation or institution, the GCC flag, or the flag of any other regional organisation or institution, whether by taking it down, damaging it or through any other action that expresses hatred and contempt.
According to the amendment it’s a punishable offence for a public servant to use his power in blocking the implementation of a ruling or order issued by a court or the attorney general 30 days after the date of being officially notified about implementation, as long as the execution of the ruling or order is part of the public servant’s jurisdiction.
Additionally, the amendment stipulated that collecting donations personally or via individuals, newspapers, companies or any other means in a non-authorised capacity is a punishable offence.
The practice of quackery, whether free of charge or for a fee, is a punishable offence according to the amendment. Acts such as doing, saying or using means to deceive people into believing that the person practising quackery is capable of witchcraft, knowing the unseen, achieving a need or desire, preventing damage or inflicting harm are all examples of quackery. The same punishment applies to the mediator and any person who prepares, opens or runs a place to practise acts of quackery or promotes or covers them up.
The Cabinet also approved a draft law on the regulation of works on streets and referred it to the Advisory Council.
The bill touches on provisions pertaining to the prohibition of excavation work or extending service lines or repairing them unless a permit is obtained from the competent department, except in emergency cases.
The bill also explains procedures of applying for a licence, conditions of granting it and obligations of the licensee. The relevant department at the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has the power to halt the licence or cancel it according to the requirements of public interest, provided that the decision shall be substantiated. If obligations of the licensee are not met, Ashghal has the right to fix the road and restore it at the licensee’s expense.
In addition, the Cabinet ratified its decision on the formation of the Ministry of Justice’s tenders committee.
The Cabinet also ratified its decision on the amendment of some provisions of Order No 17 of 1998 on the establishment of the standing committee for emergency.
According to the amendment, a representative shall be added to the committee from the Foreign Ministry, the Ministry of Transport, National Command Centre (NCC), the general department of coast and border security, and the Ministry of Interior’s public relations department.
The Cabinet then examined some issues and took the necessary decisions.
It reviewed a draft law on the amendment of some provisions of Law No 24 of 2008 on supporting and regulating scientific research.
It also discussed a letter by HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs on reviewing a draft decision by HE the Minister of Economy and Trade on setting requirements for the licensing of recreational facilities, and a draft decision by the minister of municipality and urban planning on the technical requirements for children playgrounds at parks.
