Over in Saudi Arabia, women cannot travel alone without a specific form or an electronic authorization. As of 2015 women were given the right to vote in Saudi Arabia. This means that their penal code includes some very hardcore punishments such … To be clear, Saudi Arabia never explicitly formally banned women from driving. Being poor is against the law. Posted on by. Islamic classes have lessons outwardly proclaiming that music is forbidden. These companies require employed women to cover their faces at all times while working. It is illegal to engage in any religious practice other than Islam. Let's take a look at some of these weird laws from around the world to know about how unusual they are: Something which you may consider to be normal in your home country can cause offense in Saudi Arabia; landing you with a public flogging, jail time, deportation or even death. Religion pervades everything including the business culture and commercial environment. With an area of 830,000 square miles, this country is the fifth largest in Asia, and the second largest Arab country, falling second only to Algeria. However, this colleague is not from Saudi Arabia and she admitted that she is not familiar with the rules of Saudi Arabia, only with what my daughter would be expected to wear in a Muslim culture. Someone once said that the world is wild at heart and weird on top. It is illegal to import any books featuring Christian symbols such as a cross. Business happens at a much slower pace with a huge emphasis on relationships, connections and local business practices. Other companies would not be allowed to hire women as engineers. So far this year 40 people have been executed – almost four times the equivalent number for this time last year. Saudi Arabia’s cabinet has now approved the new government tenders and procurement law. It is a country that considers all its citizens to be Muslim and any non-Muslim expats have to abide by its strict rules as well. People who are relaxed and personable enough to establish relationships tend to be more successful. The official system of law in Saudi Arabia is Sharia, which is derived from various Islamic texts and governs all members of the faith in the country. In Saudi Arabia, Women not Allowed to Drive a Car. However, it did not permit women to drive or get licenses, either. Visitors to Saudi Arabia should familiarise themselves with public decency laws. However, there are no formal schools to teach music. Banned: The mixing of sexes at malls and restaurants. Saudi Arabia's vast oil reserves are owned by the Saudi government, in effect the Saudi royal family. When it comes to women it imposes some more restrictions. Many male family members are understanding and allow the women in their families full freedom in leaving or entering the country. The sole constitution that is used is the Quran, which all judges have to interpret conservatively. In a mall McDonald’s for example, there would be two separate lines for men and women. Some of these strict rules in Saudi Arabia have started to change. All of this is in an effort to prevent non-Muslims from sharing their ideas with Muslims and possibly converting them. Read Saudi Arabia Newspapers including Saudi Arabia economy Top stories and breaking Saudi News online. 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Don't Cut the Cactus Jumping Cactus in Arizona Source By Felicity Thistlethwaite PUBLISHED: 16:21, Wed, Oct 28, 2015 It is illegal to have a bathtub in a private home in Ohio. Minnesota’s Strangest Law. Saudi Arabia is a country in which meetings, presentations and the news are opened in the name of God. Nevertheless, one of the biggest changes in the Saudi community is in women's sports, with Mohammed bin Salman allowing and supporting women playing sports inside and outside their schools, and allowing women to attend stadiums. Industry-wise, the sole company that employs female engineers is Saudi Aramco, the largest oil company in the world. It is illegal to turn right on a red light at any time. As of 2015 women were given the right to vote in Saudi Arabia. Also on that day, schoolgirls are prohibited from wearing anything red – not even a red scarf. In Saudi Arabia there are no specific statutes or laws to govern by. If an oil field is found in your garden you must report it to the state before digging a bore hole greater than 5000 feet. Music is legal in Saudi Arabia and there is an active music industry. Banned: Selling or wearing anything red on Valentine’s Day. Banned: Women traveling without permission. Women are officially forbidden to drive within Saudi cities, although this became a formal law only in 1990. Mall security would not allow a group of men or a single man to enter unless a woman is with them. Sometimes though, laws can get a bit out of hand, weird even. 10 Weird Laws of Pakistan Which Will Make You Laugh Loud. In Saudi Arabia, if you are convicted of a crime, your punishment is often extreme. The penalty for violating that rule would lead to the store being shut down. The government also manage some weird rules in place to protect free mixing of sexes in public by this concern they ban public theaters, social mixing (except couples), and Valentine’s day. In Saudi Arabia, if you are convicted of a crime, your punishment is often extreme. Saudi Arabia, an Islamic nation, practices a theocratic system of government in which much of its laws revolve around the rules set forth by religious code. The usual reason given for banning them is that they allow for men and women to mingle unsupervised, leading to possible immoral actions outside the realm of marriage. 5. In a standalone McDonald’s restaurant, however, there are two completely segregated sections so the men on their own would not mingle at all with the women and men on the other side. As per the UAE’s cybercrime laws, VPN users can face fines ranging between 500,000 and 2 million dirhams (£107,855 and £431,421) if they are “using a false IP address or a third-party address by any other means for the purpose of committing a crime or preventing its discovery”. The usual reasoning for banning anything red on Valentine’s Day is to discourage people from celebrating it (as it is not an Islamic occasion and it may lead people “astray”) and to prevent people dating or from having any contact outside marriage. Saudi Arabia maintains its 1990 Fatwa prohibiting "women's driving of automobiles" as "a source of undeniable vices". If someone does a favor for you, return the favor in some way. Links provide access to primary documents, legal commentary, and general government information about specific jurisdictions and topics. Saudi Arabia is finally open for mass tourism after the launch of a new tourist visa on September 27. Women under 45 must either travel with a husband or father or else hold a … 4. Saudi Arabia is among the world’s top executioners, with dozens of people being put to death annually, many in public beheadings. Saudi Arabia faces a ban from the International Olympic Committee for never sending out any female delegates and the Saudi Olympic Committee was only able to find two girls, one of whom was born and raised and trained in the United States. The ban is not just limited to places of worship but even extends to personal religious items such as religious books (Bibles, for example) and symbols, such as crosses and crucifixes. Progress! Possession of drugs In Dubai and in the whole of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), you can be jailed for drug possession even if a tiny amount of illicit drugs is found in your bloodstream or urine. As of 2015 women were given the right to vote in Saudi Arabia. It contains the Hejaz region along the Red Sea, which is the cradle of Islam, and the Najd heartland. This is especially true mainly for Saudi men, while many non-Saudi men (especially Western expats) are allowed in with no problems most of the time. Banned: Having a drink on the aeroplane en route to Saudi Arabia Do not arrive in Saudi Arabia under the influence of alcohol - and definitely do not have a drink on the plane. Any girl that shows up to school with a hint of red is barred from entry and is sent home to change whatever it is that is red. In Saudi Arabia, it is illegal for any woman to drive a car. The law consists of 99 articles and will replace the … Recently, an online travel authorization system was initiated in which the male guardian can make these arrangements less bureaucratic. Right now, it’s illegal for them to vote too, but King Abdullah declared that women will be able to vote and run in the 2015 local elections, as well as be appointed to the Consultative Assembly. Women are not allowed to do most of the jobs that men can do in Saudi Arabia. Officially, celebrating religious or your own birthdays is banned in Saudi Arabia. Many such rules are being followed in different parts of the world. The State Department may not think it’s a great idea, but you can still travel there. The term “As God wills it” is a nicer way to say “No.” 2. Progress! This country almost bans everything for females including women driving, women at work, Roaming women, and No gyms for girls. In 2009, Khamisa Mohammed Sawadi, 75, … 7. Any man not earning a “reasonable” income can be imprisoned. From Jeddah to Riyadh there are two highways: one for Muslims, another for “infidels”. The country has a population estimated to be 33 million, making it the 40th largest country in the world based on population. Saudi Arabia is an Arab country located in Western Asia. Women have only recently been allowed to work as store clerks or at department stores. This might come as something of a shock considering the bad press the nation gets, but it’s totally possible to travel to Iran, even in the current global environment. It is known as the birthplace of Islam and like all the other country’s it has a specific set of laws that govern people and tell them the rules that they should abide by and the things that they should refrain from. Some of these bans also occur in other countries, but this list is specifically about Saudi Arabia since I was born there and I grew up (along with millions of others) shackled by these laws. 16 Strange Rules, Laws, and Customs to Consider When Traveling in Iran. Many of these weird laws are unbelievably bizarre. Furthermore, because Saudi Arabia contains the two holy mosques, it considers having any pork inside the country desecration. As for restaurants, there are typically two sections: one for families and one for singles, according to the same designation as mentioned before. Someone once said that the world is wild at heart and weird on top. Many such rules are being followed in different parts of the world. Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world where it is illegal for any woman to drive a car. It is considered an offense if a woman appears in public, unless accompanied by a male relative or guardian. Saudi Arabia prohibits mingling between members of the opposite sex unless they are immediate relatives. To successfully teach abroad in Saudi Arabia , you'll need to learn to read between the lines and … Many actions that are considered illegal have no actual written laws to ban them – a lot of them are not even addressed in the Quran. Never openly refuse a request from a friend. Saudi Arabia: Strange Things only for Women. Those who master singing or playing an instrument either teach themselves, are taught by a tutor or learn abroad. Aside from general police, Islamic codes of morality are enforced by the muttawa, an organization of volunteers an… Most women work in either education or the medical field. Fifteen percent are Shiite Muslims who practice mainly in the eastern provinces of Saudi Arabia. Male doctors may not examine women, and women doctors cannot examine men. According to Human Rights Watch (HRW), adult women must obtain permission from a … This gender inequality in It is against the law to call any Welsh person “English”. Laws are in place to make sure society continues to run smoothly. It is always best to say “Yes.” Keep in mind that a “Yes” can also mean “Maybe.” 3. Women have never been allowed to drive unless they drive in the desert or inside private compounds. A number of women tried to obtain driver’s licenses, but were shocked to find out that the computers at license offices aren’t able to look up their information when their ID numbers are entered, as the database only includes men. Saudi Arabia. Unfortunately, Sharia law creates an unequal environment for women in the Middle East, especially in Saudi Arabia. If a Mexican enters the USA illegally it then becomes illegal for him to return to Mexico. Women who dared to drive were arrested and fined.