Taking religious books into Ireland?
 

This is a very strange question that I am researching for a friend. She says that someone she knows is going to Ireland to pick up a hunting dog that he has bought. He is a dog breeder. The woman who sold him the dog has asked him to bring some religious books that she says she cannot order from the US and have shipped to her address in Ireland. Is it true that some religious materials cannot be shipped to Ireland, or is there more to this than meets the eye?

Siobhan will tell you better but I think it's b******s.

Are you sure it has anything to do with the fact that they are religious books? My guess is that the vendor just doesn't ship internationally--that's all.

I live in NI so can't really speak for the Republic but I have never heard of such a thing.

10 years ago perhaps (anti catholic materal might have been banned) but I doubt it today.

What sort of religious material are you talking about

According to the Irish Customs website the following are prohibited:
Firearms
Ammunition
Explosives
Offensive weapons
Indecent or obscene material (books, periodicals, prints and video recordings)
Plants or bulbs
Live animals or dead animals (including cats and dogs)
Birds or poultry
Endangered species
Meat and meat products and
Hay or straw (even if used as packing).

The folliwng link will take you to a list of prohibited publications

http://www.justice.ie/80256E010039C5AF/vWeb/flJUSQ62MDSR-en/$File/Prohibi.pdf

Just curious, could this religion be considered a cult?

I have read in the past about European Gov'ts (esp Germany) going after the 'Church of Scientology' pretty agressively.

Or possibly one of those US based 'White Supremacy Churches', that would be banned in Europe? Regards, Walter

I think, Walter, you have an interesting take on freedom of expression and association in Europe:)

I am willing to bet that the restrictions have everything to do with trade permits and nothing to do with content. My sister wanted to order a book collection with religious music partitures in Seville and the owner informed her that he could order it but not shipped it to the US because he didn't have a permit for international trade, which it would had been considered to be. A priest friend stopped over in September and picked it up for her. It is done all the time.

Sheila, Like everyone else it's just different things that I've read over the years that give me my take on all types of events. Which are sometimes wrong and sometimes right :).

I have read that some Gov'ts have really gone after these Scientologists, so possibly banning their literature wouldn't be a far stretch.
But I'm not saying they do in fact.

And I believe these US whacko 'White Supremacy Churches' would be banned in Germany including the import of their literature.
They are usually neo-Nazis praising Hitler, displaying the swastika and denying the Holocaust. Which I believe is illegal in Germany?

The US and many European countries have different legal takes on hate speech and literature.
And many of these religious fringe cults preach racial and ethnic hatred.

So would I be wrong in assuming that this type of religious cult hate literature could possibly be banned from import into some European Countries, even though it is (sadly) legal in the US?
Regards, Walter

Thanks, everyone. This gives me some good information to tell her. I think they are going to open the packages and just see what is in them before they leave on Thursday. Something seems fishy about the whole thing to me. Thanks, again.

marty ...

Nothing to add to what others have said - likewise think its either a shipping issue or she is bring in some seriously weird and unspeakable stuff.

My comment has to do with packing/ carrying stuff when they don't know what is is. They will be asked on check-in "has anyone asked you to carry anything for them" and they had better know what they are carrying. Ignorance is not a defense if they are found to be carrying contra-ban of any kind.

Please tell them to be really careful.

regards

OReilly: I just called my friend and read to her the comments that are here, and, bottom line, I told her exactly what you said before I even read your message. They are going to open the packages which I think is the only thing they can do to be safe. It is a full suitcase of stuff, and I think it is pretty weird that she asked a basic stranger to do this for her anyway.

I'll be the one to say it....I think it is quite inconsiderate of the lady to ask your friend to bring back " a full suitcase of stuff" and not expect that he will check the contents. I would even be concerned of how much weigh/value this amounts to. A couple of books is OK, but "a full suitcase of stuff" is way rude, IMHO.

Oh, I agree!

I bet it's pornography.

Same thought occured to me Christina.

could be anything from the woman simply doesn't want to pay postage on a legitimate order of heavy books, to there are contraband/drugs in the suitcase. But it sure is fishy. Definitely sounds really really weird . . . .

A suitcase definitely sounds dodgy. Even if the contents are apparantely ok, something could be hidden. When she gets to customes she will be asked if she packed everything herself or has anything belonging to someone else. Her best bet is to say 'yes, I'm bringing this case of books through for X,I didn't pack it and although I checked it and it looks ok to me, I'd appreciate your checking it too.' That way if anything is found she will be in the clear.

I wouldn't touch it with a bargepole.
If it's a heavy suitcase, you friend could refuse politely because of weight restriction

Besides which, if these books can't be posted because of legal restrictions, then smuggling them through customs in a suitcase doesn't sound like such a great idea either!