The best thing part about traveling to a new country is the opportunity we get to explore new cultures that have a different perspective on many things that are normal and common in our country.
In fact, if you did them, you may get in a serious trouble or even end up in jail. However, you must be prepared because some of their laws are really crazy!
Before you take an Uber to the airport, make sure to make a lot of research to understand everything about the country you are flying to. It is important to follow their rules not only to stay away from any trouble but also to respect their culture and tradition.
Chewing Gum
In Singapore, the streets are incredibly clean, and in order to keep them that way, there were a number of laws conducted that help people behave and keep the streets shining. It is forbidden to spit, litter, and smoke in public areas. Plus, chewing gum is banned from selling.
The only gum allowed inside the country are the ones used for medical purposes, and they can be found only in pharmacies. Technically, gums are treated like drugs in Singapore which makes sense because if the streets are clean, so is our health and manners.
Showing “too much” skin
In most Muslim countries, women must not wear improper clothes so it won’t attract any unwanted attention. It is important to hide legs (especially thighs), top of the arms, the chest area, and the underwear should not be visible.
Iran and Saudi Arabia are very strict when it comes to the dress code for women, so they have to fully cover their arms, legs, and hair. When a woman doesn’t follow this dress code in Iran, she will be requested to cover up as soon as possible.
In Saudi Arabia, she might end up in jail. However, not all Muslim countries have these laws. But, it is best to cover up so you won’t end up in trouble with locals.
Cutting down a cactus
In Arizona, USA, there are some unique, native plants that can’t be found anywhere else. So they became protected under state law. So if you tried to cut one down, you will be committing theft and will be requested to pay thousands of dollars and you may even end up in jail.
The cactuses take years to grow and they are pretty high. Plus, they are very unique, which is why these laws make sense.
Jogging
If you like to keep your healthy routine during your travels by having morning jogs, then you should skip it while visiting Burundi. There is an argument about jogging being only an excuse for people to organize “uprising”. They jog in groups as a way to cover their subversive activities.
However, you can jog alone, but never with a partner because 2 people constitute as a group, and by the way, people go to jail for that, so it is okay to be unhealthy for a couple of days, right?
Living together before marriage
The United Arabic Emirates have a strict law that prevents couples from living together before marriage. You won’t even be allowed to stay in a hotel in one room with your partner unless you have a marriage certificate.
So if you are thinking to move into UAE with your partner, think again because you may find the police knocking on your door and taking you down to jail.
However, many other Arabic countries have the same law but they only apply it to citizens. If you are a foreigner, then you are good to go.
Celebrating Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day is when couples celebrate their love and express it with romantic dates and gifts, red roses and chocolate. Sadly, people in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are forbidden from celebrating it because they believe that focusing on love that isn’t directed to God is against their religion.
So the government strictly prohibited Valentine’s Day cards, advertisements, and even internet memes. Otherwise, they may end up in jail. Also, there were rallies against celebrating Valentine’s Day in four Indonesian cities.
Public Displays of affection
If you traveled to the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Pakistan, Iran or Qatar, then it is best to avoid kissing your partner in public or you will end up punished with fines and imprisonment. Showing any affection publicly is considered to be a socially unacceptable behavior.
Indonesia, India, and Thailand are also not very safe when it comes to such behavior, you may not find trouble with the law, but you will find them with locals and citizens.
Eating In Public
Muslims celebrate one month each year by fasting from the sunrise till the sunset and they call it: the holy month of Ramadan. However, in the United Arab Emirates, eating and encouraging the act of eating or drinking publicly during this month is strictly prohibited.
If anyone does it, they will be faced with a fine or prison. So if you visited this country during the holy month, then it is best to avoid any eating or drinking in public, even if you are not Muslim.
Insulting the king
People in Thailand worship their king in a way that we hardly can understand. There are strict laws about respecting the royal family. The thing is, the definition of an insult and disrespect is not really clear, you may do something unwillingly and somehow end up in jail. For instance, stepping or dropping the money that has the king’s image.
In any case, we want to visit Thailand for its beauty and great hospitality, which is why we would gladly respect the King.
Drinking Alcohol
Since the Islam’s religion bans alcohol completely, you would expect to find many Muslim countries to have strict laws about it. At the airport of Saudi Arabia, they check the baggage very strictly in order to not let anyone bring alcohol into the country.
Plus, it is impossible to be found in stores or anywhere for purchasing. In case you were caught drinking, you will be taken to jail and probably stay there for years.
Moreover, there are some laws and restrictions on consuming alcohol you need to check before traveling to Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, Sudan, Yemen, Bangladesh, Libya, the Maldives, and some places in India.
Have you ever been to any of the countries mentioned? Please share with us the experiences you had and the laws you found to be the weirdest in the comments section below.