The Kuwait Times, Gizmodo and Engadget have reported that the government of Kuwait has outlawed DSLR cameras.
“The Ministries of Information, Social Affairs and Finance (hello, 1984!) have collectively decided to ban the use of the chunky shooters in public places, except where it can be shown that it’s for journalistic purposes.” – Engadget.
—UPDATE—-
The Kuwait Times Newspaper has rescinded this story. Go figure.
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This ban reportedly affects tourists too, so if you’re headed to Kuwait for some relaxing time over the holidays, come prepared. I understand that compacts and camera phones have not been banned, so you can still get the shot…-ish.
I’ve read all I can on the topic this morning, but for the life of me I’m having trouble understanding. Why they hatin’ on the interchangable lenses? What about micro 4/3? Can anybody out there shed some light on this bizarre state of affairs for me?
Doesn’t matter SIR JARVIS.
I sincere wish explode Kwait. And explode Iran. And all those freak countries …
All countries have the government and treatment that they deserve … BECAUSE U.S. of AMERICA is getting a freak country also with this BULLSHIT about to use the 1st amendment to protect PEDOPHILES selling book at your distributor AMAZON.COM.
Mother fuckers using the name of a beautiful forest …
OK … how about forget grown up stupid people … YES STUPID because they don’t change their destiny because they don’t want … and WE have to waste time with those LOSERS? a
What about try to save the future of our little HERE, before AMERICA became a chaos:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Boycott-Amazoncom-for-Selling-How-Guide-for-pedophile/160167204019884
the above poster is crazy, and I hope his comment is deleted.
Yawn.
Amazon have already retracted that book.
Jeez.
We worked so hard to “Liberate” these guys!
The logic is actually pretty simple. Some of the official government assignment photographers have lost work to microstock so the Kuwaiti government is trying to decrease the supply of undervalued images to keep prices high.
Now that makes some sense! Whenever there is a photo-conspiracy…follow the money.
Haha that made me laugh Matt.
I am shocked, I would hope it would be reconsidered in the future.. every country has great potential for photography… especially of the land.. and you know.. the land was there before the people 😉
Fear of a Photographed Planet! Of course, everyone is carrying a camera on their phone these days. I have been harassed here in the States for shooting high rise office buildings, as though the reflective distortions on that glass facade are holding information that terrorists can use.
So although the Kuwaiti paranoia is a little disconcerting, we haven’t been exactly open here in the good ole USA. I would probably get less reaction here in Utah if I strapped on a sidearm than to carry an SLR with a telephoto attached.
I bet it’s a combination of paranoia of weapons smuggling and reports that things are smuggled in look a like lenses and cameras. Not that I’ve tried but I bet you can stuff a lot of swag into a hallowed out 800 mm lenses.