- No lip-syncing or blue jeans for you!
Every country in the world bans something, and often for a good reason. But often, the items or reasons for their prohibition don’t make a whole lot of sense.
Earlier this year, we brought you a list of 10 strange banned things from around the world. That list, however, was far from comprehensive.
So, let’s continue it. Here are another 10 bizarre bans from various countries.
Pencils — Tunisia
In Tunisia, if you write something, it’s going to be permanent. That’s because the country has banned pencils.
To be more precise, you can’t import pencils into Tunisia. You might get across the border if you forget a pencil in your luggage, but bulk shipments are strictly verboten.
As to why? Well, nobody seems to really know.
Ballpoint Pens — Nigeria
If Tunisia bans pencils, the situation is the opposite in Nigeria. The Western African nation bans the imports of ballpoint pens.
You also can’t import refill cartridges for the pens. However, the tips of the pen are allowed — for some reason.
What is it with writing implements in Africa?
Mullets — Iran
Are you all about business in the front and party in the back? Well, stay the hell out of Iran, then.
Iran has banned men from having mullets — and most other kinds of long or styled hair. On the first offense, you’ll have your head forcibly shaved, and after that, the fines kick in.
Draconian as the law is… Can we get some kind of a global mullet ban going? Just asking.
Marriage (if You Have an STD) — Nebraska
It’s not just foreign countries with bizarre bans. Good ol’ U.S. has plenty of them, too.
For example, in Nebraska, you can’t get married if you have an STD. If you had a wild youth, don’t bother trying to settle down as you get older.
The law has been in the book apparently since 1866, but no one seems to know why. There are no record of the ban ever having been enforced, but technically it’s still there.
Lacy Underwear — Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan
Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan have a customs union, so they share a lot of the same bans. In 2014, they forbid lacy underwear.
Or, more specifically, they banned undergarments containing less than 6% cotton. So, there was no intentional moral element to the ban.
Nonetheless, it effectively prohibited most frilly luxury lingerie. Sorry, Natasha, it’s just granny panties now.
Being a Bad Dog Owner — Rome, Italy
When in Rome, you do as the Romans do. And that means taking your dog out on a walk every day, rain or shine.
Those found to violate the law are liable to receive a $700 fine.
The law is intended to prevent animal cruelty. It also prohibits keeping goldfish in a small glass bowl — you need a full aquarium.
Blue Jeans — North Korea
Honestly, this probably isn’t the weirdest ban in North Korea. But it’s hard to know exactly what’s going on in the country, so here you go.
You’d better not wear blue jeans in North Korea. They’re banned as symbols of American extravagance and decadence.
Curiously, only blue jeans specifically are banned. As far as we know, other colors are fine, so the ban isn’t about denim itself.
Lip-Syncing — Turkmenistan
Don’t mouth along to your favorite songs if you’re visiting Turkmenistan. You might get in trouble.
In 2005, the country’s president Saparmurat Niyazov banned lip-syncing in order to “protect” Turkmenistan’s musical culture.
This is not the only weird prohibition Niyazov put in place before his death in 2006. He’s also banned opera, ballet, dogs (he doesn’t like their smell), and talking about infectious diseases.
Honestly, we could do an entire list of Turkmenistan’s outlandish laws. Maybe we will.
Playing in a Casino (if You’re from Monaco) — Monaco
Casinos are an important part of Monaco’s economy. They’re also widely associated with the tiny city-state and have appeared in several James Bond movies, for example.
But as significant as they are, they’re strictly for foreigners. Monaco’s citizens aren’t allowed to gamble in casinos as part of a moral policy established in the 1850s.
Bad gambling habits are okay for the filthy foreigners, though — as long as they keep bringing in the cash.
Beyoncé — Malaysia
It’s rough being a Beyoncé fan in Malaysia. The pop star is permanently banned from ever entering the country.
According to Malaysian authorities, her shows are way too raunchy for the (according to them) easily influenced Malaysian citizens. So, they banned Beyoncé. Completely.
You can still listen to her music, though. Just don’t expect to see her perform.
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