Qatar is not the only country among the Gulf and Arab countries in particular to issue such laws. All countries are involved in this case, through which a number of laws are passed to restrict the freedom of information and intellectual freedom of authors, media professionals, journalists and owners of printing presses. All those will be covered by this law, which will be a way to harm them by suppressing freedoms. We expected that Qatar would remain different from the rest of the Arab and Gulf countries, which encourage suppression of the media, and of the intellectual and political freedoms manifested by political criticism and publications or the like. That is why I think that Qatar has joined these countries and, as I said, I was expecting Qatar to be different, because of the development and openness to the developed countries, but it has issued the same laws that restrict freedoms in our Arab countries.

In my opinion, Qatar is a civilized and advanced country that adopts new developments and technologies from around the world in all fields. Hence, issuing a law to regulate publications, including books and newspapers, is a regulatory step that aims at organizing intellectual and media freedom, by adopting the important and beneficial things that are necessary for the development of the intellectual and media concepts of Qatari society. In this way, this strategy will serve the scientific movement in the country. In my humble opinion, Qatar tries to be open to the world in all the scientific fields, by organizing conferences that discuss all scientific and intellectual issues. It also does not limit intellectual or media freedom; quite the contrary, it has always worked on developing the media movement and opening the doors to the freedom of speech and expression. Protecting freedom of speech is a Qatari strategy!

The government issued the publications law, through which it restricted some of the freedoms of writers and intellectuals. This restriction comes from the core of traditions and public norms, which regulate an important aspect of people's lives in Qatar. Thus, it does not violate these norms or go against them, because such a violation would damage the high status of this state and the reputation of its people.

The State of Qatar issued a law regulating the publication of books and newspapers, but this law restricts intellectual freedom and freedom of the press. It is a baseless action, because it denies intellectual freedom on the grounds that the publication of books and newspapers can incite the citizens or corrupt their morals. But in fact, the publishers, writers and authors can write down what they want in terms of ideas, and the State of Qatar can provide committees that work to control the new publications to ban the issues that violate the laws or incite moral corruption. Thus, everyone would be given the opportunity without any limitation or passing laws that restrict intellectual freedom. The media should enjoy freedom of expression without restriction or conditions, because the basis of media work is freedom to express one's self, and books and magazines are based on intellectual freedom. What the government of Qatar wants to do will cause a negative reaction among the people who may criticize this method, because it silences the mouths that want to raise the people’s awareness, and this of course would hurt the segments that have long been accustomed to freedom. This is what happens in all countries where there is freedom in the media and writing, and the State of Qatar should preserve freedom for writers and thinkers to write and publish freely.

Qatar is not the only state that tries to suppress freedoms in legal ways. All the Gulf States adopt the same policy. There is no freedom for any writer, journalist, or media professional in the Gulf States to express his ideas or publish his books freely. These laws aim mainly at eliminating freedom of speech and suppressing people to keep things under control. We all know that publication and journalism have played a significant role in changing many things. Although Qatar enjoys development and an openness that made us think that it might be different, it still behaved in the same suspicious way, by publishing a law imposing restrictions on the newspapers and media activities under the pretext of organizing the publications, such as books, newspapers, and mass media. However, I see that as no more than a law suppressing the freedom of speech under the current great development in Qatar, and the fear of losing control over the situation, as I have mentioned.

I do not think that Qatar adopts this strategy, because it has issued a publication law regulating publications such as books and newspapers. Quite the contrary, this law may be beneficial in achieving the best and improving the quality of the culture, publication, journalism and the mass media in general. In Qatar, we realize that the lack of a law regulating these elements and this sector may result in several problems and breaches, which may have negative impacts on the press and the media, as well as the publication industry in the country.

The State of Qatar’s issuance of a law regulating the publication of books and newspapers, and restricting intellectual freedom and freedom of information, is not an appropriate action, and it is rejected by everyone. People are aspiring to have more freedom, not to be restricted by laws that limit thought, because ideas are diverse and different, and they cannot be restricted, otherwise there will be a lack of freedom of expression and thought in the media. This will be politicized and will follow the same nature and concept, and will lead to the stagnation of principles of intellect that reflect our ideas. So I believe that what Qatar wants to do by issuing a law to prevent freedom of thought indicates that the State of Qatar is very fearful of what has happened or might happen, causing limitation of freedom of thought and the restriction of freedom of expression. Organizing the publication of books and newspapers is a principle rejected by many intellectuals and scholars who want to express their ideas. This is a restriction of the minds, so they cannot express their ideas, new thoughts and opinions that may benefit people and improve their situation, so they can develop and keep pace with the other countries. The issuance of such a law is not a good thing; it is better to pay more attention to other things. Books and newspapers will not limit bad things, because there are many ways to disseminate wrong principles. Those with authority over books, magazines and newspapers need to follow up on such media sources, so as not to publish bad ideas. This will give many people the opportunity to express their views, and there will be freedom of expression and intellectual content that may be useful or harmful, given the fact that people know what is good and what works in their interests.

Issuing such laws is a step which will allow culture, the media and the press to move forward, because the regulation of media work and publishing according to laws lets everyone know their duties. Therefore, the works will be regulated, and this will guarantee the rights of everyone, whether they are media professionals, journalists or the government. I do not think that this law, in the event it goes into effect, will limit the freedom of the press, in my view, although some may contradict me. I simply believe that the State of Qatar is moving ahead in the media field. It is one of the leading countries in this field, and through such laws, it wants the Qatari media to develop more and to occupy an advanced rank among the free media of the world. This new law would definitely be a start forward towards a free and diverse Qatari media, where rights and duties shall be guaranteed to all parties.