Posted on 08/09/2007 5:36:21 AM PDT by SJackson
Despite a series of initiatives aimed at generating foreign tourism, the Saudi Arabian government continues to bar Jews and Christians from bringing items such as Bibles, crucifixes and Stars of David into the country and is threatening to confiscate them on sight, The Jerusalem Post has learned.
"A number of items are not allowed to be brought into the kingdom due to religious reasons and local regulations," declares the Web site of Saudi Arabian Airlines, the country's national carrier.
After informing would-be visitors that items such as narcotics, firearms and pornography may not be transported into the country, the Web site adds: "Items and articles belonging to religions other than Islam are also prohibited. These may include Bibles, crucifixes, statues, carvings, items with religious symbols such as the Star of David, and others."
Contacted by the Post, an employee of Saudi Arabian Airlines in New York, who would only give her name as Gladys, confirmed this rule was in force. "Yes, sir," she said, "that is what we have heard, that it is a problem to bring these things into Saudi Arabia, so you cannot do it."
An official at the Saudi Consulate in New York, who declined to give her name, told the Post that anyone bringing a Bible into the country or wearing a crucifix or Star of David around their neck would run into trouble with Saudi authorities.
"You are not allowed to bring that stuff into the kingdom," the consular official said. "If you do, they will take it away," she warned, adding, "If it is really important to you, then you can try to bring it and just see what happens, but I don't recommend that you do so."
Asked to explain the policy, the official said, "Every country has rules about what can or cannot enter."
Over the summer, the Saudi government-run Supreme Commission for Tourism announced a number of steps, such as issuing group visas to foreigners through tour operators and granting longer entry visas, in the hopes of boosting the number of foreign tourists to 1.5 million annually by 2020.
Meanwhile, a nitwit Vatican Cardinal - the long-time USA-basher, Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, head of interfaith dialogue - bemoans the offense given to Muslims by the US “invasion” of Iraq and even has the nerve to say that, although Pope Benedict’s Regensbergy talk offended Muslims, “he [the Pope] conducted himself quite well while in Turkey.”
As if the role of the Catholic Church or the Western World was to placate these religious fanatics (aka the vast majority of Muslims).
When are we simply going to tell the Saudi government specifically and the Islamic world in general to kiss our collective keisters?
My only real question is, what is wrong with someone who cannot think of a better place to tour than Saudi Arabia? If I had already been everywhere else in the world I would rather spend two weeks in Whatalotopee, Mississippi.
I bet they’d let the Nazi flag in.
They have so little faith in their pitiful religion that they have to prevent God’s Word from getting into their so called holy land.
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Re: Despite a series of initiatives aimed at generating foreign tourism,
Why on earth would ANYONE in their right mind vacation there? Unless they would like to see a real life representation of George Orwell’s world, of course.
I guarantee that would be more than tolerated it would be welcomed.
Is it really that bad? Granted I’ve never been there, but is Saudi Arabia such a bland, featureless place?
Don’t-go-there...for any reason.
“Does anybody still believe this is a free country”
I don’t.
“My only real question is, what is wrong with someone who cannot think of a better place to tour than Saudi Arabia?”
That’s a good point but I think the real question in the story is when are we going to get some leaders who name S.A. as one of the biggest enemies of life?
My mother lived in Saudi Arabia for a long time. The procedure for bringing her Bible and other forbidden stuff was to wrap it in her undies. The customs guys would not investigate unmentionables.
How much aid from Christian American taxpayers is going there?
I would rather go to Blue Ball or Intercourse, Pennsylvania than Saudi Arabia.
And what person in his right mind would want to take a vacation in Saudi Arabia?
The Saudis know what the secular world does not.
I guess we should feel lucky that they at least will take our $$$ in weapons...
When are we simply going to tell the Saudi government specifically and the Islamic world in general to kiss our collective keisters?
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