The taboo on how to take photographs and pictures in Saudi Arabia

Thursday, February 25, 2010

I was in Saudi Arabia over the last three years and in my personal experience with this practice is very difficult for photography in Saudi Arabia.

Before August 2006 photography was not allowed in Saudi Arabia. There are signs saying "No Photography" in several places including historical and famous mosques like The Prophet `s Mosque, and Qiblatain Mosque. You are not allowed to photograph any government institutions, namely, the governance of schools, mosques (since allMosques are owned by the government strictly controlled), airports, military, public buildings, palaces and other government buildings.

Once I was arrested by security police, with a picture of a building was acquired in an educational institution. They took the digitalslrcameraprices.com" title="Buy Camera DSLR">camera without explanation. Later I was invited to a form that says I will never shoot again sign on this point. It was only after a lengthy explanation of my intention thatreturned to me my digitalslrcameraprices.com" title="Buy Camera DSLR">camera, but retained the film.

On another occasion, I decided to spend some 'of my friends the night in a camping outdoor air in the desert of Medina named as Muntazah Baidah. Locals used to come here with families, especially on weekends. That night, I decided to do some shots of the desert plants in the vicinity. I tried different techniques with a flash. Unwittingly, the fact that I had my digitalslrcameraprices.com" title="Buy Camera DSLR">camera in his direction waswhere a family was camping about 60 feet away. After a while 'I saw a man dressed in white approaches with an angry face. He blamed me for photos of his family and asked us to camp further away.

In the village of Buraidah, I was once arrested by two police officers to take pictures of a mosque. I was issued only for the intervention of my friend in Saudi Arabia.

Even at Madain Salih, one of the most famous archaeological sites in Saudi Arabia, you must be careful when using the camera.At the entrance of the area, there are signs of class that I like to shoot. Soon I was summoned by police, and reviewed every image on my digital camera.

Journalists find it difficult to endure every day to take pictures in public. I am sure that many visitors who were already in Saudi Arabia with a camera, have similar experiences to recount.

But why do not you shoot, allowing these places? It is because MuslimsTeachings or local custom, or because the government `s restriction on your freedom and liberty? Because all these taboos of photography?

In my opinion, I think this attitude to photography from the Saudi government was not created initially, how many people would believe that this is due to the Islamic faith. What does it mean for the government to hide from the world? Since Saudi Arabia is a regime of dictatorship, he would not, and not allow anyone to view the documentSaudi government `s actions. Norebel.com" title="Buy body camera DSLR">body has the right to criticize, comment, or even a proposal to make a particular decision or action taken by the government and a picture is said to be worth a thousand words. The royal family must provide the police with the pretext of so-called "religious police" in order to ensure that their rules of waiting, according to their personal interests.

Secondly, because of local custom. The camera is seen as a breach of privacy. Only with a camera around thePackage will surely attract attention and comments, if you are driving on streets or in public places. I was watching the locals, and called me, not as a deterrent to use on my camera. They can also signal to the authorities.

But why do they allow photography today? Is not because they want to, but because they are forced to accept that it is through international pressure and the cause of the precarious situation of Saudi Arabia. When unemployment isincreased in recent years, the royal family of new ways to generate revenue other than oil. The need to promote tourism at international level in order to diversify their economies. Photography is a means, as seen throughout the country in the world of advertising to promote tourism.

Even after the lifting of the ban on photography, I think it will take many more years until the locals got used a.

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