Qatar conscripts civilians for World Cup security

Qatar has called up hundreds of civilians, including diplomats summoned back from overseas, for mandatory military service operating security checkpoints at World Cup stadiums, according to a source and documents seen by Reuters.

The deployment of conscripts, some of whom would normally defer national service because their work is considered vital, highlights the logistical challenge faced by the tiny Gulf Arab state hosting one of the world’s biggest sports tournaments.

The conscripts are training to manage stadium security queues, frisk fans and detect contraband like alcohol, drugs or weapons concealed in ponytails, jacket linings or even false bellies, according to training materials seen by Reuters.

Qatar has a population of 2.8 million – of which barely 380,000 are Qatari nationals – and expects an unprecedented influx of 1.2 million visitors for the tournament. It already has an agreement with Turkey which is supplying 3,000 riot police.

In early September the civilians were ordered to report for pre-dawn duty at the national service camp north of the Qatari capital Doha, according to order papers seen by Reuters, less than three months before the 29-day tournament kicks off.

The civilians were told they had been called up to assist with the World Cup and that it was their “patriotic duty” to do so, the source said. “Most people are there because they have to be – they don’t want to get in trouble,” the source said.

Some volunteers are also training alongside the conscripted force, according to the source, who has direct knowledge of the plan and the training.

Asked for comment, a Qatari government official said in a statement that Qatar’s national service program would continue as normal during the World Cup.

“Recruits will provide additional support during the tournament as part of the regular program, just as they do every year at major public events, such as the National Day celebrations,” the statement added.

Since 2014, Qatari men aged between 18 and 35 have trained with the military for at least four months as part of mandatory national service introduced by the emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani. Dodging the duty can incur a year in prison and a fine of 50,000 Qatari rials ($13,700).

Security with a ‘smile’

The aim is less about boosting the armed forces and more to build discipline and “enhance social cohesion and national unity,” according to Eleonora Ardemagni, an associate research fellow on the Gulf and Yemen at the Italian Institute for International Political Studies.

In past years, Qatari conscripts have participated in national day celebrations and arrangements for national sports day. Diplomats abroad have been able to defer their service.

The current group of civilians are on four months paid leave from their jobs at key Qatari institutions like state-owned QatarEnergy and the foreign ministry, the source said.

Qatar has brought diplomats home from several overseas missions, including in the United States, China and Russia, the source said. The diplomats are expected to return to their posts after the World Cup.

Conscripts report to the national service camp five days a week, where they attend training sessions conducted by officials from the security division of Qatar’s World Cup organizers, the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, the source said.

They are taught to approach fans with “positive body language, focus and a smile,” the source said, to abide by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and avoid discriminating against fans on any basis, the source said.

Training also includes hour-long marching drills on the parade ground.

On the morning of Sept. 22, about 30 national service participants stood to attention in one of the temporary security huts outside Khalifa International Stadium, one of the eight grounds where matches will be played.

Two officials briefed the men, who were dressed in trainers and track suits and mostly sported fresh buzz cuts. Outside, hundreds of national service participants toured the stadium perimeter where workers were setting up ticketing queues.

The 80,000-capacity Lusail stadium, built for the final, had its first near-capacity crowd earlier this month. Fans leaving the stadium queued for hours for the metro and organizers ran out of water at half time on a hot late-summer Gulf evening.

World Cup organizers intend to relax Qatar’s strict laws limiting the public sale of alcohol, and will allow beer to be served near stadiums a few hours before matches kick off.