Saudi Arabia has launched a series of initiatives to lure tourists, but the Muslim kingdom continues to prohibit Jews and Christians from bringing in Bibles, crucifixes and Stars of David, threatening to confiscate them on sight.
The Jerusalem Post reported the website of the country's national carrier, Saudi Arabian Airlines, declared: "A number of items are not allowed to be brought into the kingdom due to religious reasons and local regulations."
The website – after referring to a prohibition on narcotics, firearms and pornography – states: "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."
The Jerusalem paper said it confirmed the rule in a conversation with a Saudi Arabian Airlines employee in New York, who would only give her name as Gladys.
"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, also confirmed "you are not allowed to bring that stuff into the kingdom."
"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."
The Post asked the consular official to explain the policy.
"Every country has rules about what can or cannot enter," she said.
The paper said the Saudi government-run Supreme Commission for Tourism is trying to boost the number of foreign tourists annually to 1.5 million by 2020. Initiatives include issuing group visas to foreigners through tour operators and granting longer entry visas.
As WND reported in 2004, when Saudi Arabia announced a new policy to allow tourists, it brought attention to the official Supreme Commission for Tourism's website, which explicitly stated Jews were barred from applying for visas.
But after WND published a story about the site's contents, the reference to Jews was eliminated, and the Saudi Embassy in Washington insisted the Islamic kingdom does not bar anyone on the basis of religion or ethnicity.
The website originally said the following people are not allowed in the country:
An Israeli passport holder or a passport that has an Israeli arrival/departure stamp.
Those who don't abide by the Saudi traditions concerning appearance and behaviors.
Those under the influence of alcohol ... .
Jewish People
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