In a significant departure from past practices, the Consumer Protection Department has started naming and shaming Qatar shops that violate the country’s consumer protection laws, the Peninsula reports.

Any outlet that has received a violation is obligated to pay for and publish the news in two Arabic-language daily newspapers for two consecutive days, as directed by an amended law issued last year.

Since the announcement must only be in Arabic, the question arises – what about Qatar’s majority non-Arabic speaking population?

The issue is one that has been raised at least a few times in past months.

In March, the Emir issued a decree ordering all marketing signage and street billboards to be in Arabic.

And earlier this year, the Supreme Education Council ordered Qatar University to conduct the majority of its classes in Arabic instead of English.

Thoughts on this?