The most absurd bans in the world: Did you know them?
Do you love to travel and visit new places? Do you like to immerse yourself in the local culture? Do you love to discover the more hidden and less touristy aspects of the places you visit? Then reading this article might interest you!
The strangest bans in the world
1. Peeing in Switzerland after 10 p.m.
In Switzerland, it is forbidden to flush the toilet in the bathroom after 10 p.m., so you must hold your needs until the following day or opt for a different solution to clean up your toilet. There is also a prohibition for men to urinate standing up at night without pulling the chain because the noise might annoy the neighborhood.
- Chewing gum in Singapore
Singapore is one of the cleanest countries in the world, and when the government realized in 1992 that it could save a lot of money on cleaning the streets, which are often soiled by sticky chewing gum, it decided to ban its sale and consumption. However, since 2004, the law has been revised and softened, allowing chewing to those with a specific prescription. For example, chewing gum can be used by those who want to quit smoking or those with digestive problems.
- No kissing in public in Dubai
Although Dubai has become a popular honeymoon destination, newlyweds must be careful and remember that they cannot publicly exchange effusions or even kiss in the street. And they considered illegal behavior that does not fit the strict moral standards of the local culture. The government has published a pamphlet specifically for foreigners with all the rules of conduct they are urged to follow after the increasing cases of arrested couples in the country.
Among these rules is a ban on drinking alcohol in public and getting drunk, dancing in the street, expressing feelings by kissing or holding hands, taking drugs, swearing or cursing, and spitting.
- Singing Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” in the Philippines.
In some countries, people take karaoke very seriously, and a whole culture is behind this form of entertainment. So much so that, in the past, serious incidents have been triggered due to the misinterpretation of some songs.
For example, Frank Sinatra’s My Way was banned in the Philippines in 2010 because it was believed to be linked to a series of murders. Since 2000, there have been at least a dozen murders in the country involving people accused of singing a mispronounced version of the song.
- In Saudi Arabia, it is forbidden to be homosexual, eat frog meat, and online entertainment
Among the strangest prohibitions in Saudi Arabia is the ban on eating frog meat. Also, it is illegal to be gay or transgender, just as it is unlawful to play gambling. Because of this, anyone who is homosexual is obliged to hide it, and those who like online casinos in Saudi Arabia must take precautions such as using a good VPN and sticking to discreet payment methods like e-wallets and cryptocurrency to play any online game safely and quickly. In any case, the best online platforms are safe and offer as many games as the rest of the world.
- Group jogging in Burundi
During the civil war that ravaged Burundi from 1993 to 2008, citizens used to jog in groups to ease tension and protect themselves from militia attacks. However, in March 2014, the country’s president, Pierre Nkurunziza, banned group jogging, arguing that that activity was once a cover for planning subversive activities against the government. The law is so strict that you can go to jail, but it only applies to groups.
- Lip-synching in Turkmenistan
In Turkmenistan, you either sing live, or you don’t sing. So in 2005, the government banned performers from lip-synching during TV shows and cultural events to preserve the country’s authentic culture. And being in a banning mood, it also banned opera and ballet, branding them as “useless.”
- No jeans and piercings in North Korea
North Korea, a few months ago, banned its people from wearing jeans and having piercings, a new restrictive measure against the fashion of Western countries that Pyongyang accuses of influencing North Korean society and its values too much. Citizens are monitored by the youth militia loyal to Kim Jong-un; their mission is “to prevent the corruption of public morals and to detect capitalist trends in clothing, such as the length of skirts, the height of shoe heels, and haircuts.
- Dying in the British Parliament
British law prohibits dying in Parliament because it has the status of the Royal Family Palace, so a person who died inside it would have the right to be buried with full crown honors with a state funeral. Therefore, in case of sudden fainting or illness, ushers immediately get the unfortunate person out.
