BOOK ON LAWS AGAINST USE OF NARCOTICS

A BOOK explaining the laws that are in force in Qatar against the use
of narcotics and drugs, has been published in Arabic by prominent
Qatari lawyer Yusuf Ahmed al-Zaman, according to a report published
in a local Arabic daily.

The book ­ the first of its kind in the Gulf region ­ explains in
detail the various laws applicable on drug offenders. It also
provides a gleam of hope of being saved from the clutches of law for
those offenders who of their own volition surrender to the
authorities and abide the corrective measures prescribed to them.

Al-Zaman highlights the fact that the ultimate ruling on drug abusers
and drug traffickers is either death punishment or life imprisonment
in addition to a fine of QR500,000.

Explaining the reasons for the spread of the use of narcotics and
drugs in Qatar and in the Gulf region in general, al-Zaman said in a
statement to the daily that the majority of offenders are from the
young generation. And the reason for their going astray is absence of
parental control or disunity in the family and the lack of family
bonding. The juvenile desire to get into a 'kick' or make quick money
through illegal means may also be reasons for this phenomenon, he said.

On the historical background to the proliferation of drugs and
narcotics, al-Zaman has mentioned in his book that drugs were in use
in Latin America as early as 500BC and Red Indians chewed cocaine
leaves while performing their religious rites.

In the Islamic world hashish smokers emerged as a militant group led
by Hassan bin Sabah in the 11th century. They made use of hashish to
create celestial visions. The English word "assassin" is derived from hashish.

Referring to world statistics on drug abuse al-Zaman said that drug
addicts count for 8% of the world population.