Manama: People implicated in human trafficking in Qatar will face 15 years in prison and a QR300,000 ($82,368) fine under a new anti-human trafficking law.

The law passed on Monday brings under its purview forced labour, forcing women into prostitution, sexual exploitation, child abuse - including misuse of children for pornographic purposes and forcing them to beg-, kidnapping and taking someone from a foreign country into Qatar promising him or her money for the purpose of exploitation and enslaving someone.

The law also applies to members of organised gangs that are involved in transferring victims from one country to another for the purpose of human trafficking and exploitation, Qatari daily The Peninsula reported on Tuesday.

Individuals or gang members found guilty of forcibly transferring, receiving or sheltering victims are also included in the law ratified by the Emir, Shaikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani.

The law comes into force with immediate effect and is to be published in the official gazette, according to Qatar News Agency (QNA).

People in-charge of companies found guilty of involvement in human trafficking are liable to be sentenced to a jail term of five years and will pay a fine of QR200,000 ($54,912).

The licenses of firms involved are to be cancelled for two years or, depending on the nature of offense, for ever. Properties, including cash and vehicles, of those implicated in human trafficking will be liable to be confiscated under the law.

The legislation also applies to people who forcibly take out physical organs of their human victims and to husbands who are found guilty of exploiting their wives.

The law clarifies that wherever necessary the provisions of other criminal laws in the country would also apply in cases of human trafficking.

The criminal courts will try the cases of human trafficking and will be empowered to coordinate with the judicial authorities of other countries in chasing down an alleged offender based on bilateral agreements between Qatar and the other country.

The law vests the responsibility of providing shelter to a victim of human trafficking until the legal process has been completed. The victim would be liable to be given financial compensation.

The victim would not be held responsible for the crime in any way, even if he or she broke Qatar's sponsorship or entry or residency rules. According to the daily, the foreign affairs ministry will coordinate with another country's authorities if the victim of human trafficking is a Qatari national.