Qatar introduces national military service for women

Qatar’s emir has signed off on a law enabling women to do voluntary military service and extending the service for men for as long as one year, PressTV reports.

The official Qatar News Agency said the legislation, which was endorsed by Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on Thursday, affects men and women aged between 18 and 35.

Under the law, “national service for females is voluntary.”

It is the first time women are allowed to take up roles in the military beyond administrative duties.

Under previous legislation, Qatari men holding a bachelor’s degree could complete the service in three months and those without one had to serve for four months.

The new law, however, makes the one-year-long military service for all men mandatory regardless of their level of education.