Buzz
Qatar has recently issued advisory regulations for female tourists to this nation stating that leggings are not considered a type of trousers and are not modest enough to wear in public places.
In a pamphlet promoting the dress code for tourists in the Gulf nation following this Islamic faith, leggings are listed among the clothing items not to be worn in public.
The implementation of this somewhat stringent regulation is part of Qatar Islamic Culture Center's 'Demonstrate Your Respect' campaign. The pamphlet for the new regulation lists several inappropriate clothing items for tourists in preparation for the 2022 World Cup hosted by Qatar.
The content within the pamphlet urges tourists to help preserve the values and culture of Qatar with the line: 'If you're in Qatar, you're one of us. Please dress modestly in public places'.
In addition to illustrations depicting clothing not suitable for outdoor wear such as tank tops, short skirts, sleeveless shirts..., below the advertisement is written clearly: 'Leggings are not trousers'.
This campaign is currently utilizing social media to help spread the message everywhere, including the use of Twitter accounts.
According to Qatari culture, leggings are not considered appropriate attire because they are too tight and can obscure the body's contours.
“We hope that you will wear modest clothing and women should avoid wearing any attire that is too tight, too short, or reveals the body such as short skirts or sleeveless tops,” emphasized the Qatar Islamic Culture Center.
This campaign is currently receiving mixed reactions.
One respondent after reading the brochure remarked: “If this campaign were launched in the UK, it would be seen as racial discrimination. Why is this accepted elsewhere regardless of religion or culture? Basic human rights should be accepted globally, not just where deemed appropriate.”
According to Trí Thức Trẻ
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Reference: Travel Guide from Mytour
MytourMay 30, 2014
