Legging it

For those of you wondering whether it’s acceptable to wear leggings without tunic tops over them, Qatar has an answer: “leggings are not pants”. The Arab emirate has launched a social media campaign to educate Western tourists on appropriate clothing ahead of the 2022 World Cup, which is likely to bring an influx of badly-dressed visitors to the state. Campaign group “Reflect your Respect” has created a graphic (pictured) to share on Instagram and Twitter showing what sort of outfits are considered immodest in the Islamic country. The advert, also being handed out in leaflet form at Qatari airports, reads: “If you are in Qatar, you are one of us. Help us preserve Qatar’s culture and values, please dress modestly in public places.” The words are printed alongside pictures of four stick figures wearing unsuitable outfits, each with a cross underneath. Three are women — one in a sundress, another in shorts and a singlet, and a third wearing leggings and a T-shirt, with a muffin-top of bare midriff clearly visible. The fourth figure is a man in shorts and a singlet. The Arab state also forbids residents and visitors from uttering “indecent phrases”, displaying affection in public, drinking alcohol, and taking photos of people they do not know. Any behaviour considered obscene under Sharia law — including homosexuality — is punishable with a fine and up to six months in prison. It's good to get the relevant information eight years before you'll need it, but a) the differing cultural standards are already common knowledge in much of the world and b) they should be careful how far they're taking that crap because the campaign could be misused in Western countries to discriminate against Muslims and justify a ban on traditional niqabs and hijabs.