When any person enters the offices of ministries, institutions or companies, he is asked to hand over his ID card.
The person has two options: the first is to refuse to hand over his ID card, which means returning without doing the work he came for, while the second option is to hand over the ID card, which is a violation of Qatari law and could create further problems for him.
The Ministry of Interior has warned citizens against handing over their ID cards to anyone as this is illegal and can cause problems as the other person can misuse the cards.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs warns citizens abroad not to deposit their ID cards with any authority under any circumstances. This means that handing over the ID card to any authority at the gate or entrance of any ministry or institution is a deposit.
So what is the story behind these ID cards and why would the authorities warn against handing over the cards to others when article No. 22 of Law No. 38/2005 says that passports or ID cards do not constitute evidence that the holder has Qatari nationality.
The Ministry of Interior says on its website that the national ID card is a plastic card that has an electronic chip on which data can be stored, including text and pictures, and it can be loaded with programs. Data on the card can be changed, obviating the need for issuing a new card.
These ID cards cannot be forged, but those with the required skills can change the data on them, and the danger of leaving ID cards with someone else is that they can be used in different ways:
1. E-government transactions: Among the services provided under e-governance are applying for a business visa, issuing of travel permits, applying for new or renewal of residence permits, and approval of exit permits. For all these services the identity of the applicant is verified through the password, and one can imagine the damage that can be done if the password is revealed.
2. Airports and border checkpoints: Electronic gates at airports and border checkpoints have fingerprint scanners, however, ID cards can be used to pass other ports or border checkpoints that do not have electronic gates.
3. Moving across GCC countries: To facilitate movement of people across their borders, the GCC countries agreed to approve the use of ID cards to cross borders. Staff at borders enter the ID number in a computer and compare the photo with the cardholder, but if there is a big crowd they only enter the number and allow the travellers to go. One can imagine the responsibility of these officers and their accountability if anything goes wrong and anyone they allowed to pass is wanted by the authorities. The minimum charge they would face would be of collusion with the person.
4. ID card: A lot of government entities use the ID number for completing transactions, including bank and real estate transactions, change of car ownership etc. This and other reasons have made me refuse to give my ID card to security personnel. I try to convince them and they understand the situation occasionally and ask for only my name and telephone number.
Finally, I would like to say that we are confused by this situation as while the state authorities ask people not to hand over their ID cards, security personnel insist on it, therefore, the Ministry of Interior should find a solution to this problem.
The solutions could be: 1. Preventing the use of ID cards in the absence of the holder (which may create difficulties for the elderly); 2. Informing all government and non-government institutions not to take ID cards from visitors and only check the cards to verify the identity of the holder; 3. The authorities can also provide people with identification cards in addition to the ID card to be shown when necessary; however, this card should not be used for processing any official transaction.
