European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 11, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 18 a the stars and stripes Money matters wednesday november 11,1992mail to Gulf packs a bundle of restriction searches common to uphold islamic strictures by Crystal Laureano staff writer at least 20 percent of packages mailed to service members in saudi Arabia Kuwait and Bahrain arc searched by local customs officials for prohibited items according to the commander of the postal unit that delivers mail in those nations. Quot usually they search a percentage of the mail each Clay a said capt. Dan Burgess of det 1, 9th air postal so. Quot typically that is 20 percent unless they find something that is strictly prohibited. Then they search 100 percent of that Days  the searches arc the result of strict islamic religious Laws that prohibit or restrict the entry of a wide Range of items common in american life. A recent Survey at Dhahran one of four places where military mail enters saudi Arabia and Kuwait found that 5,000 to 8,000 pounds of mail arrive there daily. Airports in Jidida and Riyadh saudi Arabia and the capital City of Kuwait also receive mail destined for .  in the saudi kingdom and in Kuwait and Bahrain both emirates. Prohibited items Are alcohol pornography and other items contrary to the islamic religion anti islamic material drugs and narcotics fireworks firearms ammunition pork or pork products products from countries that arc boycotted by saudi Arabia such As Israel and alcohol distillation equipment. All video cassettes Are held for review Burgess said. Prohibited items cannot enter saudi Arabia or Kuwait under any circumstances. But there is also a list of restricted items that Are examined by local customs officials to determine whether they May enter. Items such , books and magazines arc reviewed for photos or illustrations of prohibited items. For example Playboy and Penthouse magazines Are considered pornographic by saudi and kuwaiti customs officials. But also not allowed arc pictures of women not fully clothed such As in an advertisement or a Catalon. Similarly advertisements Are not permitted for Alco hoi or even for Cologne that contains alcohol. In the reviewing process of a Magazine for example if Only a few pages Are deemed prohibited they will be torn out and the rest of the Magazine will then be delivered Burgess said. If the publication has Many illustrations of prohibited items it probably will be destroyed. Caution should be taken when mailing Holiday related items Burgess said. Jewish or Christian religious items Are prohibited As Are Christmas Trees Angels nativity scenes or anything associated with non islamic religious holidays including pictures of such items. There is no inclusive list of prohibited or restricted items Burgess said. And items deemed offensive to islam by the customs agents Are seized regardless of whether prior notice has been Given. The intended recipients of prohibited items can be fined by the local government and might lose their mail privileges. A a and they have fined some people in the past a he said. Typically fines Range from 50 to 1,000 riyals or about $15 to $265. But recently a Soldier was fined 2,000 riyals about $530, because of prohibited videotapes mailed to him Burgess said. Military officials were Able to get the Fine dropped and there was no further action because the Soldier was scheduled to leave soon he said. The tapes were returned to the sender. Inspections Are conducted by the saudi and kuwaiti customs officials. A a we re just Here to deliver the mail a Burgess said. A a we arc not an investigative Agency. We done to open any  however postal officials always oversee the package searches he said. Quot no package is opened without a military postal worker right there a he said. Confiscated items arc documented and a in tej is sent both to the sender and the recipient explaining what was removed. Unfortunately items that Are detained for review a particularly videotapes a Are hard to track because there is such a Large number that enter the three countries he said. Packages destined for service members in Bahrain which has More relaxed customs prohibitions also must comply with saudi and kuwaiti customs Laws because the military mail is processed through those  East mail when sending mail to saudi Arabia Kuwait or Bahrain keep in mind that the following items Are prohibited or restricted because they Are hazardous or Are considered contrary to the islamic Faith prohibited items liquor or liquor filled Candy narcotics and dangerous drugs pornographic articles and publications anti islamic materials hazardous articles fireworks toxic or poisonous substances firearms of any Type includes air guns and toy guns ammunition pork or pork products items manufactured by firms boycotted by saudi Arabia distillation equipment restricted items posters paintings books Cata logs. Or magazines that contain photos or illustrations of any of the prohibited items religious items including bibles crucifixes and instructional material government symbols including stickers flags and military clothing equipment other than for personal use radios and other electronic items Candy cigarettes and cigarette advertisements medications and alcohol note this is a partial list and saudi arabian and kuwaiti customs inspectors might seize other items a amps Pelor Jaeger postal rules can give americans a Shock by Crystal Laureano staff writer  and their families and friends often Are surprised by the list of items common to the american lifestyle that cannot be mailed to saudi Arabia and Kuwait. When Samantha Maki Learned that a Sears Roebuck and co. Catalon might not be allowed because of the photos of women modelling underwear she did not believe it. "1 find that very surprising Quot she said. When told that the prohibition on alcohol extended to Cologne containing alcohol and advertisements of such Cologne she was equally surprised. Quot i knew they did no to allow alcohol but 1 would have never thought of that Quot she said. Makis husband spent several months in the persian Gulf Region during operations desert storm and desert shield. During his absence she sent him a couple of packages. A mostly Sunflower seeds peanuts snacks i knew he would like to have and toiletries a she said.  arc briefed about customs restrictions when they arrive in the Gulf Region said capt. Dan Burgess commander of det 1, 9th air postal so in Riyadh saudi Arabia. A so the people Here in the kingdom know what should not be in their mail. It is those in the . Or Europe who Are not always aware a he said. A the things that the american people accept on a Day to Day basis Are not acceptable Here in accordance with their islamic  although Debbie Rossmann a husband has been in Kuwait since August she was not aware that saudi and kuwaiti customs officials enforced the prohibitions so strictly. A the packages in be sent have been mostly food snacks and family pictures a she said. A a he a never said anything about his packages being  she attended briefings last year in the states for family members of soldiers deployed to saudi Arabia but said a i done to remember anything about religious  Paula Guitierrez thought items sent for personal use were of. Quot from my own experience As Long As you done to Send 10 bibles its not a problem a she said. Quot the restrictions Are not new to the postal Community a said maj. Bruce Kinser Public affairs officer for the military postal service Agency in Alexandria a. Restrictions on mail addressed to military Post offices overseas Are listed by zip code in the bulletin published by the . Postal service. The restrictions in saudi Arabia and Kuwait Are Standard for islamic countries he said. During the height of operations in the persian Gulf Region customs officials often Quot looked the other Way in regard to performing strict customs inspections on inbound mail Kinser said. A now that the situation has normalized they Are taking a closer look at the mail a he said. 1 he rules that allow saudi and kuwaiti customs agents to search inbound mail Are no different than those that apply to mail Lor service members in Europe or mail entering the United states he said. It is each country a right to enforce its customs requirements he said. In countries where restrictions Are Niobe extensive and much different than in the United states such As the islamic nations the customs operations Are perceived to be extreme he said. Odic chief reassures Clinton on san Diego apr the acting chairman of the Federal Deposit insurance corp. Said monday that he has assured the Clinton transition team that Bank failures anticipated next month will not Jolt the Economy. Andrew c. Hove jr., who took Over at the Odic after the death of chairman William Taylor in August said he told a senior Clinton adviser that about 40 Banks with $10 billion to $15 billion in assets could be subject to seizure starting dec. 19. That a the effective Date of a new Law giving regulators Power to take Over weak Banks before they actually lapse into insolvency. Speaking to reporters at the annual convention of the savings amp Community Bankers of America Hove said he told the Clinton team that some of those Banks might be Able to attract new capital from investors and stave off seizure. A they were reassured a he said. A a. 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