Explore our verified collection of weird laws from around the world
Flying a kite with glass- or metal-coated string ('manja') is illegal across most of India under notifications issued by state governments under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. Offenders face fines and potential imprisonment.
Since July 8, 2021, it is illegal to sell energy drinks to anyone under 18 years of age in all retail locations across Belarus. Violators face administrative fines of up to 10 base units for a first offense.
Liechtenstein did not grant women the right to vote at the national level until July 1, 1984, making it the last country in Europe to do so. The right was approved by a male-only referendum with just 51.3% in favour — a margin of only 119 votes.
Bergen County, New Jersey is one of the last places in the United States where it is illegal to sell clothing, furniture, appliances, and other 'non-essential' goods on Sundays, under a state statute known as the Blue Law. The law has been repeatedly upheld by county voters and remains actively enforced today.
Under Article 287 of the Philippines' 1930 Revised Penal Code, 'unjust vexation' is a criminal offense covering any human conduct that causes annoyance, irritation, torment, or distress to another person — even without physical contact or financial harm. You can go to jail for being a nuisance.
Sweden requires all parents to submit their child's proposed name to a government agency for approval within three months of birth. Names that could cause offence or discomfort to the bearer are rejected — as famously demonstrated when the 43-character name 'Brfxxccxxmnpcccclllmmnprxvclmnckssqlbb11116' was denied by a district court.
Turkey's Law No. 5816, enacted in 1951, makes it a criminal offense to publicly insult or defame the memory of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Turkish Republic. Offenders can face imprisonment of one to three years, and the law is actively enforced with thousands of prosecutions recorded.
In Kenya, it is illegal to photograph currency without written approval from the Central Bank, and photographing government buildings and other 'prohibited places' requires permission from authorities under the Official Secrets Act and Protected Areas Act.
Greece prohibits wearing high heels at ancient archaeological sites including the Acropolis and Parthenon to prevent damage to fragile marble and stone surfaces. Violators can face fines up to €900.
This is frequently cited as the pinnacle of legislative absurdity—a landlocked state banning whaling. However, the Oklahoma legislature never specifically banned whale hunting. The state statute simply adopts the federal endangered species list by reference, which includes various whale species.
The Metropolitan Police Act 1839 prohibits "wilfully and wantonly disturbing any inhabitant by pulling or ringing any door-bell or knocking at any door without lawful excuse." This confirms that the prank known as "Knock Down Ginger" or "Ding Dong Ditch" was a sufficiently widespread social plague in 1839 to warrant parliamentary intervention.
The Apology Act, 2009 provides that an apology made by or on behalf of a person does not constitute an admission of fault or liability and is not admissible in any civil proceeding as evidence of fault or liability. This law allows Canadians to apologize without legal consequences.
