Several countries around the world pose innumerable legal restrictions against women. Most of these laws are utterly ridiculous and aimed to solely keep a woman’s hands tied up from doing what she deems is right. Here are 8 such ridiculous restrictions against women imposed by some countries around the world.
Ban on Driving – Saudi Arabia
Women in Saudi Arabia are banned from driving cars. Although some women are protesting against the law by going behind the wheel and even taking videos to prove it, the ban still holds in the country that will willingly jail any woman who wants to drive a vehicle.
Husband’s Permission to hold job – Turkey
Turkish women have to get their husband’s approval before applying for a job in Turkey. As a result, the women employment rate is below 29% in the country. A Turkish woman also need to forfeit the assets she jointly holds with her husband in case of a divorce.
Half a Witness – Yemen
In Yemen, the law states that a woman’s testimony would not be considered seriously by a court. The woman’s testimony would need to be backed by a man before it is accepted by the court. Women in Yemen are also exempted from testifying against crimes pertaining to theft, libel, sodomy and adultery.
Husband’s Permission to Leave House – Yemen
Yet another ridiculous law in Yemen prevents ladies from leaving the house unless they gain permission from their husbands. A woman can leave the house without permission only in very dire situations like medical emergencies.
Domestic Abusers go scot Free – Afghanistan
Afghanistan recently passed a law that prevents women from taking action against domestically abusive husbands. The woman’s relatives are also prohibited from testifying against domestic abusers.
Women can’t Vote – Vatican City and Saudi Arabia
Along with Saudi Arabia, the Vatican City does not allow women to vote in the nation’s general elections. While Saudi Arabia plans to revoke the law by 2015, the Vatican City still prevents women from voting.
Abortion is Illegal – Ecuador
It is illegal to undergo an abortion in Ecuador unless you are an idiot or a mentally unstable person. Even miscarriages are criminalized in the nation that does not allow a woman to abort her fetus no matter how life threatening the situation may be.
Rape Victims can be prosecuted – Saudi Arabia and Morocco
The laws in both Morocco and Saudi Arabia can prosecute rape victims if needed. Instead of punishing the rapists, these nations try to find fault with the victim. Morocco takes it one step further by cancelling the rape charges if the rapist marries the victim.
Marital Rape is Legal – India and Lebanon
India joined the ranks of Lebanon recently when its highest court ruled that marital rape can no longer be criminalized owing to the country’s sacred values on marriage. Even Lebanon has a law that prevents a woman from citing marital rape charges against her husband, for while it considers domestic abuse as illegal, it considers marital rape to be legal.
Miscarriages and Still Births lead to Jail Term – El Salvador
This one takes the cake for being the most ridiculous law one can ever come across. In El Salvador, it is considered illegal to have a miscarriage or give birth to a still born (as if ladies had any control in this matter). It is a punishable crime that can earn a woman a jail term of at least 10 years in jail. So while the country takes these measures to prevent abortions, what would innocent women who suffer miscarriages naturally do?
There are many countries around the world that sill consider women as inferior beings. These countries tend to impose several ridiculous legal restrictions on these women for no apparent reason, only to snatch away their freedom and break their spirit.
