Complete guide to things banned in Saudi Arabia
Appearing in public with out a veil is just one of the things you aren’t supposed to do in Saudi Arabia. To avoid confusion we have compiled a list of things you aren’t allowed to do in the happiest Kingdom on Earth to avoid any unwanted arrests, imprisonments or socially embarrassing be-headings.
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 Women DriversSaudi Arabia is the only country in the world that bans all women — Saudi and foreign — from driving. The prohibition forces families to hire live-in drivers, and women who cannot afford the $300-$400 a month for a driver must rely on male relatives to drive them to work, school, shopping or the doctor. They cannot get an education, mingle with men in public unless family, travel or check into a hotel without a male guardian’s permission. |
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 Cats and DogsSaudi Arabia’s religious police have banned selling pet cats and dogs and walking them in public places in the country’s capital Riyadh to preserve public morals. |
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 Birthday PartiesSaudi Arabia’s most senior Muslim cleric recently denounced birthday parties as an unwanted foreign influence. The Saudi ban on birthdays is in line with the strict interpretation of Islam followed by the conservative Wahhabi sect adhered to in the kingdom. All Christian and even most Muslim feasts are also prohibited because they are considered alien customs the Saudi clerics don’t sanction. |
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 DollsSaudi Arabia has banned imports of female dolls and teddy bears, and shopkeepers have been given three months to dispose of any stock. The ban also applies to non-Islamic religious symbols, such as crosses and statues of the Buddha. |
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 Female athletesSaudi Arabia is the only country in the world that completely bars women from any sports activity. In the eight summer Olympic Games in which the kingdom has participated since 1972, it has sent a total of 166 men, and no women. |
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 Anything Red / Valentine’s DaySaudi Arabia has asked florists and gift shops to remove all red items until after Valentine’s Day, calling the celebration of such a holiday a sin, local media reported Monday. Every year, officials with the conservative Muslim kingdom’s Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice clamp down on shops a few days before February 14, instructing them to remove red roses, red wrapping paper, gift boxes and teddy bears. On the eve of the holiday, they raid stores and seize symbols of love. |
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 Jews Until March 1, 2004, the official government website stated that Jews were forbidden from entering the country. Saudi officials deny there was ever any such ban in practice however visas from Israeli passport holders are routinely denied. According Saudi policy for tourists, it is not permissible to bring Christian or Jewish religious symbols and books into the kingdom and they are subject to confiscation. (This was removed but here is what appeared on the Supreme Commission for Tourism’s website: * An Israeli passport holder or a passport that has an Israeli arrival/departure stamp.
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 BiblesThe Bible in Saudi Arabia may get a person killed, arrested, or deported. In September 1993, Sadeq Mallallah, 23, was beheaded in Qateef on a charge of apostasy for owning a Bible. The State Department’s annual human rights reports detail the arrest and deportation of many Christian worshipers every year. The Saudi Embassy and other Saudi organizations in Washington have distributed hundreds of thousands of Qurans and many more Muslim books, some that have libeled Christians, Jews and others as pigs and monkeys outside of Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is the only country in the region that still bans the building of churches and all forms of open Christian worship. |
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 PokemonIn an effort to; "Protect the Muslims’ ideology as well as their morals and their money" they’re banning Pokemon from the country. You can’t bring any more Poke-stuff in and if you’ve got any Poke-stuff they’re going to seize it. Gambling is illegal in Islam and since Pokemon is all about winning cards from your opponent - which counts as gambling - Pokemon is illegal. |
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 Books & MoviesCensorship is common practice in the country of Saudi Arabia, where authorities in the conservative kingdom frequently tear out pages from newspapers and magazines before they are allowed to hit the newsstands. The ban extends from popular Hollywood films to Forbes magazines and anything remotely pornographic. |
The Qur’an is the only religion on the face of the earth that allows men having up to four wives, Allah says in the Holy Qur’an. Experts say there is more polygamy in Saudi Arabia than anywhere else in the world. Saleh al-Sayeri has married 58 women and has forgotten the names of most of them. ‘I’m the happiest man in the world,’ he was quoted as saying.
Last year, at least 2,800 Sri Lankan housemaids ran away from their Saudi sponsors, claiming they had been overworked, sexually abused or physically mistreated by jealous wives. They are among the countless foreign "guest workers" in Saudi Arabia who live and work under conditions that are sometimes compared to modern-day slavery.
There are no laws in Saudi Arabia defining the minimum age for marriage. Though a woman’s consent is legally required, some marriage officials do not seek it. For example, a father can marry off a 1-year-old girl as long as sex is delayed until she reaches puberty, said one marriage official, Ahmad al-Muabi. The prophet Mohammad’s favorite wife Aisha was six or seven years old when betrothed, but the marriage wasn’t consummated until she was nine. Mohammad was in his fifties.
The practice, which is widespread beyond Saudi Arabia and is especially common outside of the big cities, often has economic implications, in the sense that elderly men buy child brides from their fathers. But there are also cases of marriages involving young boys, like the one that took place a few weeks ago between 11-year-old Muhammad Al-Rashidi and his 10-year-old cousin, out of family interests.
There are no laws in Saudi Arabia that protect women from gender-based violence, domestic violence, or marital rape. These acts are not accepted grounds for divorce, and one woman’s testimony of violence is often not accepted as evidence against her husband. Women who report sexual abuse or rape, whether perpetrated by an employer or otherwise, are unlikely to find a sympathetic hearing with judicial authorities. Instead of protection from the perpetrator, women may find themselves accused of illicit sex. Usually the burden to prove rape charges is on the woman victim, who must produce all required witnesses. The only basis for a rape conviction is a confession or the evidence of four witnesses.
About 70 "Muslim dignitaries and scholars" met for a week to deal with vital moral issues, including those raised by technology. They concluded, for example, that the use of verses from the Koran as cell phone ring tones should be BANNED "because it impinges on the sacred character of the the Holy Book" and not, surprisingly, because it’s super annoying.
A royal decree allowing pictures to be taken in many public places was issued about a year ago and the interior ministry enacted it this week. Permission is still needed to photograph private property or individuals. But some changes have come too fast for religious conservatives. King Abdullah, under pressure from clerics, told media in May not to publish pictures of Saudi women.
One of the most criminal travesties committed by the commission’s foot soldiers, the Mutawaeen, or religious police, was dramatically reported by the muzzled Saudi press itself on Friday, March 15, 2002, when the Mutawaeen forcibly prevented girls fleeing a burning school from leaving the building because they were "improperly dressed." The day after, the Saudi Gazette newspaper quoted witnesses as saying the police stopped men who tried to help the girls, warning the men: "It is sinful to approach them." Of the 800 teenage pupils in Mecca, 15 burned to death and more than 50 were injured. Yet, the commission and its royal enablers thrive.
Saudi Arabia excels at banning the construction of houses of worship — other than mosques — even though the majority of the 8 million expatriates working in the kingdom come from Christian, Hindu, and Buddhist faiths. Indeed, celebrating a private Sunday Mass inside a home could lead to jail, public lashings, and expulsion.
AME Info reports that the Saudi Ministry of Health has banned the advertising of baby milk powder and food substitutes, including the handing out of promotional samples at hospitals, in a bid to promote breastfeeding.
Despite Saudi Arabia’s crackdown on stores selling camera phones — that were banned in September 2002 — retailers still are selling them, but not keeping them in the shop.
Hold off on the brokeback camel boy action: all sexual activity outside of a traditional heterosexual marriage is illegal. Punishment for homosexuality, cross-dressing, or being involved with anything that hints at the existence of an organized gay community will range from imprisonment, deportation (for foreigners), lashes, and sometimes execution.
Coming to your neighborhood soon!
Posted By: Jerome Aronson
News Category: News, Political, Retarded
22 Responses to “Complete guide to things banned in Saudi Arabia”
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Camera phones are actually NOT banned in Saudi Arabia. The government did consider banning when they first came on the market, but then realized that like with most things technological it would be silly to ban camera phones.
As for Barbie dolls and stuffed bears you can still find them in many toy stores in the kingdom.
Most restaurants allow guests to celebrate birthdays on the premises with staff members singing “Happy Birthday!” very loudly and complimentary birthday cake given to the celebrant.
As for the sale of dogs and cats being banned, that’s only in Riyadh and it’s not clear if the rule is being enforced or not. In Jeddah you can still buy cats in pet shops and dogs are available for adoption through veterinary clinics.
It’s true that several of these bans are regional, and some have expired (like the web site notice on Jews) but they still can get you in trouble. The Barbie doll ban has been widely reported on (and sourced) as well as the rest of the top 10 items. Much of the enforcement on these bans is doled out by people who aren’t police officers and as that couple in the UAE found out you are subject to jail time for violating these customs.
He predicted the plan will have an impact, noting the United States and Saudi Arabia are building a framework for dealing with energy issues. Ministry Christian Confusion
well, since the ban on the sale of cats and dogs is only regional, it’s all good!
Pokemon cards and others should be ban in all over the world
This is an outsider look to what is happening in Saudi Arabia. The story about this man who was married to 58 women does not reflect the saudi society. I admit that such cases happens but still there are nto sidespeard and they are individual cases.
On one hand , I found half what is written in this article false .I think this article needs
updating since here in Ryiadh people can buy dogs and walk with them in public . Also, people can buy teddy bears and stuff .On the other hand, the other half is unfortunatlly true.
I am a saudi girl and i am so angry of these silly rules , banning women from driving cars, not allowing them to study without the male guardian’s permission. Moreover, there is no rule that gruanatees women’s right concerning demostic violence. What makes things worse is that people believe in these silly traditions that passed off as religion sacred rules.
thank you
Sara
You seem like a bright young woman Sara, and I feel like if given the chance you’d be a valuable contributor to society. It is my own personal belief that Saudi society minimizes women at the cost of it’s own success as a society as a whole.
As for the items in this article, every one of them here was pulled and sourced from outside news sources so your dispute about any of them being ‘false’ is not with me. While it’s true that some of them are limited to certain areas and others may be outdated none of them were made up. I certainly would not want to test the religious police by carrying any of them out in public.
I really do think Islam has taken it too far. Opress women, kill gay people and people with different religions? What the ****?
In countries where most of the immigrants are Muslim and from the middle east, most of them are rude, annoying and violent. I don’t know where I’m going with this… but if any of you Muslims are reading this and especially if you’re easily offended. Remember, you suck and the entire western world ****ing hates you, your country and your religion.
Sofia, quit holding back and let us know how you really feel about Muslims (haha).
Seriously it is not uncommon to face a death sentence for converting from Islam in many countries throughout the world. Radical Islam is a problem for the entire world, even the peaceful let everyone be Thai are having enormous problems. Thailand’s military never invades anyone, and has religious freedom but has still had more than 3,000 killed by Muslim radicals since 2004.
I find this article full of false information. This is what makes us, the west, such ignorants, just believing the media which works to make the whole world as our enemy. Get your facts right. I have lived in Saudi Arabia for a long time before and after 9/11. The media has changed the way it conveys news to make sure you agree on “The War Against Terrorism” and I see how that worked pretty well on most of us. Yes there are a few true facts in what you mentioned but if you looked at it clearly and the reasoning you would realize how a failure our system is in the states. If you look at all the crimes and every indecent thing that is happening today, you will see the source of that is the higher the person is given the freedom in his acts the more probable he does something criminal or demeaning. That brings us to the subject of religion you are mocking. Islam. You pictured the be-heading as a brutal inhuman thing to do but in fact I’d like to ask you this; do you like it when the killer of your son, wife or any relative is set free again? I asked that at your intellectual level. So here’s the bigger thing, do you have the right to take out a life and still get to live? This punishment is to deter others from doing it. That was for the OP. As for dear Sara from Riyadh, I agree with you in some points but sadly I, as a foreigner, might have a better knowledge at Quran more than you do. Women are given the rights in Saudi Arabia the way Quran mentioned and even more! Just think for a while, do you really want your country to end up like the states? Socially destroyed and far away from rehabilitation? I envy your country. You just need to open your eyes.
Luke envies Saudi Arabia and wants to have six wives he can beat whenever he feels like it.
I agree that laws like these are ridiculous, outdated and in direct violation of basic human rights.
You cant really blame the religion for this though. Its fairly obvious its the governments and the people in charge who make and force others to follow these rules. They may do it because they are fanatically religious about this sort of thing. But they are a minority, most muslims are casual and relaxed people, much like christians.
You have the insane fanatical christians or jews around the world too. Many who do equal damage.
Im not a big fan of organized religion in general, but to claim one is worse than the others isnt really fair.
Excellent article, Jerome. I would love to vent my feelings on Islam, but I don’t think I’m capable without sounding very hateful.
Granted Islam is totally stupid.. for the most part, but a critique from the perspective of and for the purposes of glorifying and perpetuating western culture is and always shall be unacceptable. In this case this is patently apparent as Saudi Arabia is a US client state and only exists because the US exists.
The mantra of the western nations is evidently that… it is not important to win but rather it is more important to ensure that everyone else loses. Thus the imagined or purported good intentions of women’s lib and human rights and so on are either meaningless rhetoric or malicious lies as all Western citizenries (irrespective of their personal beliefs) consist of well ordered and truly blind indoctrinated slaves, who can but only serve their corporate and aristocratic masters in any and every circumstance, by any and every means, to the end of illicitly acquiring other people’s monies and goods. A white man can only ever steal as much so as the sun will always rise in the East.
Democracy from the perspective of the rest of the World, is the “willing desire” to give everything you own to Jews and Americans. Anyone who doesn’t want to do this or doesn’t do so believing it is the right thing to do, is a terrorist.
The opinions of a society, the main achievements of which are the global institution of slavery, theft, capitalism and suffering, can and should only be interpreted as some means of either directly seeking to or laying the bedrock to perpetrate acts of theft against the other peoples of the World.
My message to the World and to humanity….If you want to live and if you love your children never ever have dealings with or even ever speak to an American or any of their allies, cross the road if you see one approaching and always refuse their custom.
Wow, pepe… Really?? okay, then, you may start by taking that computer invented by infidels in a garage in southern california (USA) and throwing it out the window, thus assuring yourself you never have to possibly soil yourself on the trappings of the Americans…. It also has the dual-purpose of preventing an obviously misled dipwad from posting any more rubbish on the internet (also partially invented in the USA). Look, I understand that the current moron in Washington has sort of buggered the opinion of the world towards Americans, but do not fool yourself. You can voice argument after argument, and still come off as some sort of anti-Semite or America-hater; for it seems your educators have decided to imprint that on your mind. Fine. In America the University Professors have been doing the same thing for decades… long enough to have no doubt influenced the minds of many a politician(most of whom are/were educated men). So, my counter theory is, instead of avoiding democracy, Americans and Jewish people, one may consider banning higher education and going back to cave paintings and camel caravans. Take off your Levi’s and throw that iPhone away too… By the way, pepee, my children ARE Americans, and I would gladly call you an idiot to your face for their sake. In fact, my 14 yr old daughter who goes to school as a right and not a boon granted by some testicle bearing buffoon with a God/Allah/Whatever complex, would probably give you a sound thrashing for your idiocy. Not terrorism…. idiocy…. fire your parents, they epically failed you.
http://www.lewrockwell.com/rogers/iraq12yearold.jpg
thats what you do..
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=2412
this is what your children are prospering on..
theres no denying it and no amount of PR and BS and lifestyle advertising can talk you out of the reality of what you are..
Wow Pepe this article was about things banned in Saudi Arabia, what is happening to these children is horrible, totally excuses beating women, and the rest of it.
You have now earned a free pass for all of this and even intentionally targeting innocent civilians, congratulations.
Thats irrelevant.. I’m not a muslim.. and the terrorists or whatever they are.. are also total bastards.. but they have ignorance, poverty and illiteracy to justify them … Americans in all their enlightenment just do what they do because they seem enjoy it .. or if they’re in the process of stealing ..
Pepe…you are the reason Saudi sexist, racist, paedofile religion exists.
Go out and stand up for something…
No amount of American hating can justify the hate that your country, your leader, your “men” have for itself and others.
The sooner the world gets off oil the better.
I do stand for something .. the end of American/Zionist exploitation of the World’s people.. and imperialistic capitalism …The good fight..
Great article. But I think that islam is not better or worse than christianity or any other religion. In the dark ages, for instance, christianity had the same type of stupid rules and committed the same type of crimes against human rights (and against good sense to be honest), including torture, unlawful killings and oppression. The difference now is that “thanks heavens” christianity is not in control anymore but islam is, in some countries. I feel sorry for those who live there and for one reason or another do not adhere 100% to the rules.
Jerome, I have been living here for 10 years now and every thing listed here has some element of truth to it. Its sad because they are enforced by the radical ‘religious police’ who have been given too much power to abuse at will. These bans have nothing to do with Islam, or muslim women elsewhere would not be driving, going to movies, reading novels, owning cats etc. The most liberal city is offcourse Jeddah, where any of these bans are laughed at rather than revered. In Jeddah:
Girls walk around in malls without their veils or hair covered and the ‘black cloak’ is so colorful it really is more a dressy fashion statement..
The dating scene is unstoppable- go to Java lounge, Vertigo, TGIF, Chillies…
Toys R US has Barbies and Bratz with the bikini on *gasp*
Pets are a status symbol- heck my cat is a mixed breed that I bought here..
Jarir Bookstore has a whole section labelled ‘Romance’..
And did you know a Virgin Megastore opened up here?