Lending a Mobile Phone in Qatar Can Lead to Jail

Following a clamp down in Qatar on abusive phone calls, a recent survey has found that only two in ten people would lend a phone to someone in need. The local Peninsula newspaper carried out the survey after a Filipino ex-pat worker was jailed for a month for allegedly making abusive phone calls - although he claims it was someone else using his phone.

In an interview with a Philippine-based newspaper, the wife of the unnamed arrested man said that the incident was supposed to be settled with a fine, but as he tried to fly home he was rearrested and sentenced to a month in prison.

Out of the ten Filipinos interviewed by The Peninsula last week, five said they wouldnĂ't lend their mobile phones to strangers, and two said they would, while three said it depends.

"Having somebody use your cell phone is an invasion of privacy, and at the same time it can get you into trouble, so I won't let anybody use my cell phone for his personal calls," a resident remarked.

Qatar tracks the ownership of all SIM cards and requires proof of ID before someone can sign up to a local service.

On the web: The Peninsula

Posted to the site on 30th June 2008