13 Laws around the World That Don't Make Sense ...

By Shannon • Apr 28, 2015 MD

Earlier this year, I wrote an article about some of the crazy laws on the books in the United States. As far as we like to think we've come in the world, the truth is that there are always going to be those one or two (hundred) people who do something so stupid or weird that a law needs to be written about it. It makes you wonder what's in the water here that makes people lose their marbles. Well, judging by what I've found looking around, apparently we're not the only ones drinking the Kool-Aid. To that end, here are just a few of the laws I found around the world that don't make sense. If nothing else, it should give you a good laugh.

1. Australia

-in Victoria, an electrician's licensee is required to change a light bulb. It's also illegal to wear pink hot pants (?) after noon on Sunday.

-Men are not allowed to wear strapless dresses. Any other type of dress is fine.
-You can't name any animal you plan to eat later.

Thinking...

Please leave your email and we’ll get back to you on that.

2. Bahrain

-A male doctor cannot look directly at the genitals of a woman he's treating. He's only allowed to use a mirror.

Thinking...

Please leave your email and we’ll get back to you on that.

3. Denmark

-Your husband isn't allowed to say that his mom is prettier than you. If he does, he can be put in prison for up to a year. As for being in the doghouse, there's no limit on that.

Thinking...

Please leave your email and we’ll get back to you on that.

4. France

-It's illegal to marry a dead person in France. You're also not allowed to name a pig Napoleon. I probably don't have to tell you why.

-”E.T.” dolls and similar items are banned because there's a law against selling dolls that don't have human faces. I'm not sure if that applies to action figures like Transformers, though.
-In Cannes, it's illegal to wear a Jerry Lewis mask. Don't ask.

Thinking...

Please leave your email and we’ll get back to you on that.

5. Greece

-It's illegal to wear stiletto heels. They say this is because it will harm the monuments, but I can think of a lot more reasons not to wear stiletto heels on hard pavement. Or at all, really.
-You can't dance naked in the Acropolis.

Thinking...

Please leave your email and we’ll get back to you on that.

6. Hong Kong

-It's legal to kill your husband if you catch him cheating on you, provided that you do so with your bare hands.

Thinking...

Please leave your email and we’ll get back to you on that.

7. Indonesia

-Masturbation is forbidden and punishable by decapitation.
-It's illegal not to flush the toilet after you use it. In other words, that whole, “if it's yellow, let it mellow” thing doesn't fly. They actually have a special police unit that checks public restrooms! If you're caught, you could be publicly caned. Ouch.

Thinking...

Please leave your email and we’ll get back to you on that.

8. Israel

-You're not allowed to take a bear to the beach.
-You can't pick your nose on a Saturday since it's the Jewish Sabbath. Any other day is fine.

Thinking...

Please leave your email and we’ll get back to you on that.

9. Lebanon

-A man can be put to death if he is caught having sex with a male animal. A female animal is okay.

Thinking...

Please leave your email and we’ll get back to you on that.

10. Sweden

-It's illegal to utilize the services of a prostitute. It is, however, legal to *be* a prostitute. Iceland and Norway have similar laws. Doesn't that kind of defeat the purpose?

Thinking...

Please leave your email and we’ll get back to you on that.

11. Switzerland

-It's not legal for one person to unilaterally declare war on another country.
-You can't ski down a mountain while reciting poetry.
-It's not legal for a man to pee standing up after 10 pm.

Thinking...

Please leave your email and we’ll get back to you on that.

12. Turkey

-It's illegal for someone to fall in love with their neighbor's wife, son, daughter or servant. Their animals are also off-limits.

Thinking...

Please leave your email and we’ll get back to you on that.

13. UK

-It's illegal in Great Britain to handle a salmon under “suspicious circumstances”. Exactly what those circumstances *are*, nobody knows.
-Any whale or great sturgeon you catch technically belongs to the Queen.
-There's still a law on the books that requires all males 14 years old or older be trained to shoot a long bow.
-You're not allowed to operate a cow while drunk.

I got most of these laws from stupidlaws.com, thoughtcatalog.com and itthing.com. Personally, they make me feel just a little bit better about some of the silly things that go on here. What about you? Can you think of any silly laws from around the world? What are some of the weird laws from where you're from? And can anyone tell me what "hot pants" are? Discuss!

Feedback Junction

Where Thoughts and Opinions Converge

  • Zanna

    2015-04-29T02:54:49.030Z

    Well, I thought it was a fun read!
  • Squidge

    2015-04-29T12:56:39.133Z

    Are any of these actually true
  • Priyanka

    2015-04-28T22:39:14.082Z

    Hey calm down guys.. It was definitely a good read..
  • bee

    2015-04-28T22:21:46.251Z

    My parents are from Indonesia and I visit frequently. I have never heard of the toilet law 😂
  • Splashhhh

    2015-04-28T21:14:46.536Z

    Turkey one is defietly not true
  • Ardita

    2015-04-29T03:46:51.769Z

    I'm Indonesian but never heard about the toilet law, that's so lmao
  • Pinark

    2015-04-29T12:49:08.605Z

    **Not illegal wrong
  • Eve

    2015-04-28T21:44:10.141Z

    Ok this is not true, I live in Greece and I can say that this stillettos thing doesn't exist not to mention how ridiculously obvious that is. If it was illegal to wear heels we would all be in jail.
  • Sooz

    2015-04-29T12:17:37.423Z

    None of the Australian ones are true. Not sure where you got your facts from.
Commenting as

Keep exploring

Search AllWomenStalk for your next read.

Add allwomenstalk.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
Allwomenstalk app icon

Don't Miss the Latest Version

Get the latest stories, save favorites, and share with friends — all in one place.

New Earn badges & level up while you read

Create your profile. Earn badges. Level up your reading.

Join Allwomenstalk to track your streaks, collect badges, and earn XP for the things you already do—reading, sharing, and taking quizzes.

  • 🔥
    Daily streaks with gentle boosts for 3, 7, and 30 days.
  • 🏅
    Collect badges like Reader I–III, Socialite, and Quiz Ace.
  • ⚡️
    Earn XP for reads, deep reads, likes, comments, and shares.

It’s free. Takes 30 seconds. Already have an account? Sign in.

10,000+ badges earned last month

Level

3

Streak

7 🔥

XP420 / 700

Badges

🔥 On a Roll
📖 Reader I
📣 Socialite

Trending products

Other Cool Reads

Related Topics

riche le stylo smoky eye primped previous This is How Super-Heroes Pay Their Bills ... frosty palace grease menu 7 True Horror Tales That Will Leave Even Stephen K... This is What Happens when You Binge Watch TV ... The Feels! Meet Alexander & Jeanette Toczko, Marri... New Embeds ... 15 Game of Thrones Characters We Miss ... The Winner is ... You've Never Seen Friends like This before ...
Featured article image