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drink alcoholic beverages in public or appear drunk in public.
In many Arab countries, drunkenness is a criminal offense.   A
flourishing blackirtarket in alcohol may exist in some areas but
penalties for participation can be severe.

Time

Do not try to force your "foreign speed" on the local people.
The saying, `1Haste makes Waste," truly applies in the Arab
society and a common Arabic proverb says,  "Haste is from the
devil and patience is from Allah."   Expect people to be late for
appointments.   Arriving too early or "on time" indicates in the
Arab world an ea~erness to please and can be misinterpreted as
"hustling."   Do not expect Arabs to make firm plans beyond a week
or to stick to firm details beyond that time.   The Moslem
religion prohibits tampering with the future; therefore, projects
are not planned in detail months and years ahead of time as
Westerners do on paper.

Reli~ion

     Mosques are closed to all non-Moslems unless special
permission is obtained.   If you obtain permission to visit a
mosque, remove your shoes prior to entering, speak only in
whicpers, and do not attempt to take photographs.   You will see
Moslems at prayer wherever they happen to be when the call for
prayer is heard.   Do not stare or take photogrtaphs while they
are praying.   Respect the requirement for Moslems to fast during
the holy month of Ramadan.   Do not offer food, beverages or
tobacco products to Moslems during the hours of fasting (dawn to
sunset) and attempt to avoid eating or smoking in their presence.
In some Arab countries, soldiers on duty are exempt from the
fasting requirement.

     The Prayer rug is a ritually clean space for prayer.
Worship is oriented toward the sacred Ka'ba in Mecca, Saudi
Arabia.  The prayer rug often contains symbols representative Os
some beliefs of Islam.   The symbols are usually highly stylized
because of Islam's prohibition against the representation of
animals and human beings on any article that might enter the
mosque or place of worship.

Photo~ra~hy

     Do not take pictures of military installations and
equipment, military or civilian police, and civilian airport or
seaport facilities without permission of the host country.   Do
not photograph people at close range (particularly women) without
permission.   If you do photograph people, utilize a long-range
lens (l35-200mm)  so as not to appear obtrusive.  Avoid
photographing people while they are praying.   Children like
photographs and will yell,  "Sura, Sura"  (picture, picture).  If
you have a polaroid camera, make friends first by giving them a
few shots and then use a 35mm camera or other type for your own
pictures.

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