DSLRs banned in Kuwait?

Richard

Unless you are a journalist, in Kuwait you may not use a DSLR in public--at least that's what I understood from this article: http://www.kuwaittimes.net/read_news.php?newsid=MzAwMTg4ODg1

We have a couple of Kuwait photographers here on Dgrin from time to time, and I'm hoping they might clarify what is happening and why. Starcluster, are you out there?

:scratch

Wookie

Yeah, I saw this linked from Slashdot as well. And I thought being harassed for photographing bridges was bad.

Richard

It's all so stupid. Do people really think that Osama Bin Laden needed photographs to find the WTC?

Nikolai

:cry

Nihilation

"What? What is this? How do you expect me to find that building when you're shooting with a 12 mega pixel point and shoot camera? Go get yourself a DSLR and DO IT AGAIN!"

Awais Yaqub

I asked my Kuwaiti friend to put up on FB status and here are some replies... seems like news is not well communicated.

What?? Where did you get this info from? and Why???

not as i know.. they misunderstood the situation.. sum places requires prior permission so u can take photos for like malls,, inside government buildings that's the whole story.. i don't know how did they interpret it anyway i will investigate more about this and i will inform if there's an official general ban decision... but as this time am writing to u,, there's no such thing except 4 certain places..

Richard

Thanks for that, Awais. I was a little skeptical of the report, which is why I had hoped to hear from someone on the scene. What passes for "news" these days is fairly pathetic, as anyone who has had direct involvement in something that was reported in the media can well attest. Really makes me wonder sometimes why I bother reading the press at all.

Awais Yaqub

Check this one

just now i talked 2 few ppl who r working in the mentioned ministries,, as i told u no general ban,,, just banned inside government facilities and sum other places like malls and heritage place which u can photograph but with prior permission from a related authorities which is the normal situation as before...

Awais Yaqub

I am surprised, this news made to Dpreview front page. Here is one more comment by Kuwaiti guy.

and trust me,, if there's such decision,, the government would post it in official newspaper

RogersDA

Hey Awais - thanks for helping clarify all of this!

Awais Yaqub

News website apologized on false reporting... glad my information was correct!

http://www.kuwaittimes.net/read_news.php?newsid=MzAwMTg4ODg1

Richard

Thanks for the followup, Awais. Glad to hear that it was all nonsense.