20 Countries With Archaic Human Rights Laws You Won’t Believe
Some Countries Are Way Behind The Times
In an increasingly globalized world, the commitment to upholding human rights varies widely from country to country, with many having outdated laws aimed at restricting their own citizens' basic rights. Many countries continue to oppress individuals based on their gender, sexual orientation, ideas, or other fundamental freedoms, cracking down with extreme force aimed at instilling fear, and often having tragic consequences. Here are 20 countries with archaic human rights laws you won't believe that'll remind you how important your liberties really are.
1. Iran
Iran's human rights laws have been more prominently in the spotlight since the 2022 "Woman Life Freedom" uprising which started in response to the fatality of a young girl by the hands of the government. Iran has notoriously brutal laws suppressing women and free speech, often cracking down with cruel and unusual punishments like "disappearances".
2. Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia follows a strict interpretation of Sharia law which severely limits the rights of women and girls, forcing them to dress modestly and obey their male guardians. Additionally, the country implements the death penalty for even petty crimes without a proper trial.
3. Russia
In addition to breaking international laws by invading Ukraine, Russia continues to inflict its own people with severe laws limiting their freedom. Free speech is non-existent, with critics of the government receiving cruel punishment, and openly gay people are subject to discriminatory laws and treatment.
4. China
China, being a communist state with a strict censorship policy frequently detains those who criticize the government. It also has abusive policies against LGBTQ+ people, Tibetans, and Muslim minority Uyghurs.
5. United Arab Emirates
People in the west often associate the United Arab Emirates with the ultra modern city of Dubai, but the country has a dark side. The government restricts freedom of speech, discriminates against women and the LGBTQ+ community. What's more, blasphemy is considered a crime, punishable by a five-year prison term.
6. Yemen
In Yemen, women have unequal rights to men, namely they can't divorce, can't travel without a male guardian, and have unequal access to assets. Freedom of expression is also a problem as the government routinely detains or "disappears" people for exercising their free speech.
7. Somalia
In Somalia, same-sex relations are illegal, punishable by flogging, stoning, and capital punishment. It's also illegal to preach any religion other than Islam.
Ismail Salad Osman Hajji dirir on Unsplash
8. Poland
It may surprise you to see this fairly modern European nation on our list. However, recently the country passed resolutions marking certain zones "LGBT-free," aimed at rejecting and silencing LGBTQ+ people their ideologies. "LGBT-free zones" encompass a third of the country.
9. Venezuela
In Venezuela, free speech is under attack, with journalists and activists routinely being targeted by authorities.
The government has also imprisoned and "disappeared" its opponents. The Venezuelan military has authority over much of the judicial process, hindering free trials.
10. Afghanistan
Ruled by the Taliban, Afghanistan follows strict Sharia law limiting the rights of women who are prohibited from most professions, appearing in public without a male chaperone, or playing sports. The government commonly arrests journalists and critics, attacks peaceful protests, and detains people without an investigation.
11. Egypt
In Egypt, journalists and activists are punished for criticizing the government. Ill treatment is routine in prisons and capital punishment is implemented without a fair trial. Women also have unequal rights to men and are often subjected to gender-based violence and imprisonment under spurious charges.
12. Bangladesh
Bangladesh has laws regulating media outlets, suppressing freedom of expression and silencing journalists through threats and attacks. Despite a recently-passed "anti-torture law", cruel and unusual punishment and disappearances are common practices by Bangladeshi security forces.
13. Malaysia
In Malaysia, capital punishment is still employed for some crimes. Authorities routinely target LGBTQ+ people and the archaic Communications and Multimedia Act which silences critics of the government is still employed. The government also limits freedom of religion, punishing those who follow any form of Islam other than Sunni.
14. Thailand
Thailand has the strictest laws against criticizing the royal family out of any country in the world with those accused sometimes detained for months before receiving a trial.
The longest a person was detained for criticizing the royal family was 50 years. The country also limits other forms of free expression including the right to peaceful assembly.
15. South Korea
We all know about North Korea's despicable human rights laws, but their neighbor to the south is not without its problems either. South Korea, despite being a modernized country, has restrictive defamation laws used to silence journalists and oppressive LGBTQ+ rights as well.
16. Turkey
In the recent decade, Turkey has been going down a dark hole in terms of human rights violations, suppressing free speech through inhumane means, targeting journalists and government opposition. It also back stepped on women's rights, reversing efforts to combat gender-based violence, a major problem plaguing the country.
17. Hungary
For the last few years, Hungary has been operating in a "state of emergency," relating to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, granting authorities an unusual amount of power. The government has restricted freedom of expression, LGBTQ+ rights, and has been accused of undermining the judicial system.
18. Eritrea
Eritrea is known for its horrendous human rights laws including censorship, unjustified arrests, restrictions on religious freedom and on free movement in and out of the country. The government has been accused of "disappearances," inhumane treatment of prisoners, and arresting people on bogus grounds.
19. Brunei
Brunei passed a new penal code in 2019 severely restricting the rights of women, religious minorities, and members of the LGBTQ+ community.
In Brunei, it's illegal to extramarital relations, a capital offence punishable by stoning.
20. Pakistan
Violence against women and girls is an epidemic in Pakistan, the government making little to no efforts to improve the situation. Authorities routinely "disappear" activists, journalists, and human rights workers and gender-affirming care for transgender people is outlawed.
