Charcoal drawing - will it be confiscated????
I am moving to Qatar in 2009 and have been told by a removal company representative that a charcoal drawing of a female nude that I have will not make it through customs. It is a small drawing of a woman sitting with ONLY her back showing ..... nothing showing from the front. He said it could be confiscated and destroyed. Anyone with any experience of this?
Many thanks!
Yes, if they see it it could be confiscated. In addition, you could possibly be charged with importing pornography. I know of someone who was charged by bringing in a mens bodybuilding magazine.
Wrap it and bring it with you. I don't see any reason why a piece of art is to be destroyed.
Thanks for your collective wisdom! I didn't intend bringing it with me in my luggage but having it shipped with all of my household possessions through the removal company. Lots of your answers seem to suggest I bring it with me in my baggage... which way is best? Thanks
It seems this particular art is too important to you, well, bring it.
Just cover it with a plain white paper so as not to expose it to the public, just incase they will open your baggage. Lower rank custom guards(if ever seen will question it) but for higher rank officer will definitely allow it because he is more educated.
If ever, confiscated, speak to the Highest Rank Officer on duty. He is more flexible.
Think it will pass.
Good Luck.
I have a similar picture that I brought from Saudi! By all means hide it or wrap it. If it does get confiscated ask for a receipt. They should return it to you when you leave. This happened to me with a radar detector in Saudi (also illegal!)
Here in Qatar, the baggage will not be seen by naked eye in the Immigration that is one of the good things here in Qatar unlike in Saudi Arabia; the baggage would be opened up from top to bottom.
Take the picture with you if it is really important; however I would advice you to mixed it up with your clothes or better yet with the underwear.
Good luck!!
I don't think a rear view nude would be confiscated. I've seen more explicit pictures in books on sale here. Best bet is stick it inside a book in your hand luggage.
You could put it inside a picture frame, underneath a picture of something else...if it is really important that you bring it with you.
Yeah, most probably it will be. Depending on how small it is, and how much you like it, you could risk putting it in your personal luggage when you come, and i doubt they will see it on the X-Rays, if it is underneath a few things.
I don't condone smuggling, but I'm just saying, it's possible.
Yes, it will most probably be confiscated.
Small, large, from front or back, it's a nude, don't bring it here.