I'm visiting friends in qatar soon; is it ok to bring packed bacon into qatar?

milly247
By milly247
By milly247• 4 May 2009 14:06
milly247

Hey, thanks for the comments, thought it was slightly dodgy anyway, hence the question to 'those who know'......think I'll give it a miss! Good answer ICGURU!!!

By amarie.in.doha• 4 May 2009 09:27
Rating: 5/5
amarie.in.doha

No. Pork is not allowed in Qatar. So, I would never attempt to bring it. I am American and I have been purchasing Oscar Mayer turkey bacon here in Qatar at Mega Mart. They are out of stock last couple of times I was there. We normally buy a LOT and freeze it. Also, heard Lulu's here carries it. It's actually great bacon (if fried well on the stovetop til crispy) and my family loves it, plus a lot more healthy! If your friends here are missing their bacon, they should try this! (And I'm from the south, I know good bacon! ;) I do bring food in my checked luggage every time I come back from the States with no problems. Have never been told by customs, or anyone else for that matter, that it is not allowed. Try thinking of another treat that your friends may be missing if they've been away from "home" for a while. Anything boxed or pre-packaged is good. I would not recommend bringing cans. Last trip I brought several cans and my luggage was held for inspection and didn't make it on my flight. Got it 2 days later. Ugh! I always bring some hostess cakes, ding dongs, etc. and yellow corn tortillas as you cannot buy the "real deal" here. Also Jiffy cornbread mix in the little blue boxes. I have NEVER seen yellow cornmeal here to make my own. Just a couple of ideas for you. Most things are easily found here in Qatar to satisfy an American's dietary wishes! Hope this helps!

By marycatherine• 4 May 2009 09:01
Rating: 3/5
marycatherine

The H1N1 virus is not spread via pork. It's spread via people. I believe the only way you can get it from "pork" is an actual live animal (the pig/hog/swine). I've just checked the CDC website and nowhere does it say that people should avoid pork products.

By marycatherine• 4 May 2009 08:56
Rating: 3/5
marycatherine

Here's a link to some of things that are outlined in various books of the Bible that are still contentious today.

http://www.truthtree.com/religdrlaura.shtml

I must say I found the writer's take on them amusing.

Pork was essentially shunned initially because pigs can carry diseases humans can catch, notably tuberculosis. It was a health measure for many people to avoid pork. Does that mean that everyone should eat pork because animal husbandry and farming techniques and testing is much improved from 1000's of years ago? No. But it's an interesting discussion point.

BTW I love seafood.

By windupmerchant• 4 May 2009 08:12
Rating: 5/5
windupmerchant

It is illegal to bring ANY food products into Qatar. It is also illegal to transport meat/fish between any country by international laws.

However, you didn't ask that did you?

It is ok to bring to Pork into Qatar. Just be prepared to have it taken from you in the unlikely event they search your bag.

And to the idiot above who thinks you are catching flu from pork - get a grip of yourself.

By anonymous• 4 May 2009 07:56
Rating: 4/5
anonymous

The Qur’an(Final Testament of God Almighty) prohibits the consumption of pork in no less than 4 different places. Its prohibited in 2:173, 5:3, 6:145 and 16:115.

Forbidden to you (for food) are: dead meat, blood, the flesh of swine, and that on which hath been invoked a name other than that of Allah. [Al-Qur’an 5:3]

The Bible prohibits the consumption of pork, in the book of Leviticus

"...and the swine, as he divideth the hoof, and be cloven footed, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you. Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcass shall ye not touch, they are unclean to you."

Leviticus chapter 11 verse 7 and 8

"And the swine, because it divideth the hoof, yet cheweth not the cud, it is unclean unto you. Ye shall not eat of their flesh, nor touch their dead carcass."

Deuteronomy chapter 14 verse 8

Also see Isaiah chapter 65 verse 2-5

If you still wanna eat? then, May God Bless you.

By Rey Aurelio• 4 May 2009 07:21
Rating: 5/5
Rey Aurelio

Yes , you can bring, just put in your check in baggage, wrap it separately like you can wrap 1/2 kilo and another 1/2 kilo in a a different wrapper..but, when you you it inside your house, see to it that No other people will know that your eating pork. I just did.. I brought a total of 4 kilos of it..boiled, sausage, and cooked as a dish.

By baldrick2dogs• 4 May 2009 07:19
Rating: 5/5
baldrick2dogs

I always bring my pork by road from Bahrain via Saudi and have no problems :o)

Make sure it is repackaged as 'veal'.

By nini7557• 4 May 2009 07:17
Rating: 5/5
nini7557

1. I hope you can respect this country's policy and procedure and religion eventhough you are not a Muslim BUT do have some respect on others. This is an Islamic country.

2. Do not spread the swine flu in this nice country.

Also, I hope the government of Qatar will have a more thorough check on illegal items being bring in to Qatar as one of the QL members has admitted that she has successfully smuggled illegal items (pork)in.

By marycatherine• 4 May 2009 06:57
Rating: 5/5
marycatherine

I came back from Europe last week with 2+ kilos in my checked bag - as did at least a dozen others on the same flight.

Alcohol will be confiscated, no doubt about it, but the pork seems to be winked at as it goes through the scanner.

I've never heard of anyone being detained or arrested for bringing either into the country - the alcohol was simply confiscated and they were warned not to try and bring it again.

Nationality and ethnicity may play a role here. I'm a white Western middleaged female. Asian and other people of colour may have a different experience and perhaps someone can speak to that point.

Many Westerners here travel to UAE or Bahrain and bring back pork with no incident (in my 2+ years here).

By ICGURU• 4 May 2009 06:36
Rating: 3/5
ICGURU

You can sneak it in between bricks of cocaine, that way the dogs can't smell the bacon. Just make sure your 'visit' is scheduled for the next 20+ years.

By smarrtty69• 4 May 2009 00:56
Rating: 4/5
smarrtty69

no dont just risk your life...its not nice to do illegal things..its not legal over here

By Oryx• 4 May 2009 00:07
Rating: 2/5
Oryx

it is not unknown for people to bring in the odd kilo or five including ham, pate, bacon, lincolnshire sausages etc

however due to the ongoing swine flu thingo i wouldn't think it would be the most opportune moment to do so.

By kitt• 3 May 2009 23:49
Rating: 5/5
kitt

if you are visiting "friends" here in qatar then you should have asked them...if ever you did and they said "yes" then i doubt they are indeed your friends...if they said "no" and you still asked here in QL then you definitely don't believe and trust your friends...for whatever the risk, don't bring in pork and other products with pork. qatar is a muslim country and for us muslims pork is haram...

By GodFather.• 3 May 2009 23:24
GodFather.

I must confess that people have brought Pork into Qatar by strapping it on their inner clothes. Some people even have brought in in Baggage. It is just your luck. If you get through.

By mjamille28• 3 May 2009 23:11
Rating: 4/5
mjamille28

if you're asking for trouble, by all means do so.. but dont say we didn't warn you...

By pedroh• 3 May 2009 22:56
pedroh

LOL...seriously don't bring pork here

By donosa• 3 May 2009 22:50
Rating: 5/5
donosa

You can get in big trouble as pork is banned in Qatar. The same for alcohol! After you collect your luggage at the airport, you have to pass it through a scan. I recommend you don't bring any pork or alcohol with you, they won't even allow the one you buy at the Duty Free shops before your flight...

By anonymous• 3 May 2009 22:44
Rating: 5/5
anonymous

No. It is illegal. People sometimes "sneak" it in but out of respect for the laws, I wouldn't do it.

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