Mask, painting... Allowed or not? Help please

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Kamine Member

Member since 12 May 2013

KamineMember02 August 2014 04:35:02

Hi everyone,
We are moving by the end of this month in Riyadh, and I ame little bit confused about what to bring and not to bring, my husband is already working in Riyadh but no one in the company could give him an answer. I have several stuff like wooden mask ( Thailand, Bali) status ( African) painting ( African women) ame I allowed to enter the country with ( according to your experience?) I really need your help before packing.
Thanks in advance for your advice.

riazcdki Serial expat

Member since 01 May 2014

riazcdkiSerial expat02 August 2014 07:57:34

900

Kamine,

Welcome to Saudi Arabia and EB.

In Saudi Arabia there are no specific statutes or laws to govern by. The sole constitution that is used is the Quran, which all judges have to interpret conservatively. Many actions that are considered illegal have no actual written laws to ban them a lot of them are not even addressed in the Quran. Some of these bans also occur in other countries, but this list is specifically about Saudi Arabia since I have spent some time here (along with millions of others) shackled by these laws. The general rule in regards to the legality of something is that if it is suspected to be haram (forbidden or clashing with Islamic law or may lead people astray from Islam) then suspicion alone is grounds for banning it.

Now let us come to paintings and masks specifically:

I have not heard of a single case where bringing a 'normal' mask or painting was objected upon, I have consulted with a Saudi friend who has given me his opinion, he said any pictures, paintings or figures that would express:
a) nudity and vulgarity b) Figure or painting of religions eg Buddha or Jesus on the cross ( simple cross is okay) would not be allowed.

Once you are settled in and you invite some friends and colleagues , you may find out that some muslims would not like to offer their normal prayers in a room which has masks around but this differs from one person to another ( I do not mind it but my father does).

Kamine Member

Member since 12 May 2013

KamineMember02 August 2014 10:09:16

Thanks a lot for your reply riazcdki, i know about praying in a room with masks or things like that as I ame Muslim too. I don't mind to have them for decoration. Hopefully I will be able to bring them with me. Thanks again for your advices, I really appreciate

mannyd Serial expat

Member since 23 April 2014

mannydSerial expat02 August 2014 12:07:51

309

if you are in doubt, don't bring those items. once you are here, go around the shopping centers, old and new, and build your new arts collection again. there are art galleries here, and once you build your understanding about the local art environment then you can bring your collections from abroad.

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