“Needless to say, the singles scene in Qatar is not quite like what we observed anywhere else in the world. Those from religious and traditional families are literally prohibited from casual dating. Flirting in public places gets a young person in serious trouble, and it’s especially dangerous for young women, who are expected to be chaste until marriage and risk bringing terrible shame to themselves and their parents if they are caught courting a man. One online guide warns: ‘No public displays of affection: Kissing, hugging, and some places even holding hands . . . The result is jail time.’ 17 That’s a pretty grim prison story. ‘Hey, man, what are you in for?’ ‘Doing five years for holding hands in the park.’ ‘You?’ ‘Doing life . . . for smooches.'”