mmyke, thank you for putting it simply into perspective. It's abuse plain and simple. My Qatari lady friend has shared the stories with me that simply will not find a place of rest in my mind. Deranged situations abound, and the loveless and immoral attitudes that prevail, are plain sinister. How disfunktional in the extreme. I am aware of another lady, whose family is unthinkably oppressive, and she craves to find a way out of Qatar. She is in a bad way, and no one other than her powerless friends could give a damn. Shame and lunacy is indeed, a way of life. I certainly believe that many Qatari have healthy outlooks and families, but the silence and denial is utterly widespread. Saturated. The silence cements the abuse into concrete. Better run away...