Page 25 - MASALA LITE ISSUE 90 | MARCH 2018

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WEST AFRICA: MEN WEAR VEILS THAT COVER THEIR
FACES, AND CAN ONLY TAKE THEM OFF IN FRONT OF U.S.: PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION 9645 A.K.A. TRAVEL BAN
IMMEDIATE FAMILY
As of December 4th, 2017, The Supreme Court
of the United States allowed The Department
of State and Homeland Security to limit
Traditionally, men of the Tuareg people of people from the following countries — Chad,
West Africa wear veils to cover their faces Iran, Libya, North Korea, Syria, Somalia,
when they reach the age of 25. Venezuela and Yemen — from entering The
Land of the Free. This is the revised and latest
version of the original travel ban, Executive
Order 13769.
Sara Yarjani, an Austrian permanent
resident of Iranian Heritage, was returning to
JAPAN: MOST COMPANIES California from Austria to continue pursuing
IN JAPAN HAVE WORK her university degree. She was detained at LAX
for 23 hours before being eventually deported
LAWS THAT PROTECT to Iran, even though she hasn’t been there in
OFFICE POWER NAPS
20 years.
Corporations such as Okuta, a home RUSSIA: THE MILITARY HAS BANNED SELFIES FOR
renovation fi rm near Tokyo, and Hugo Inc, SOLDIERS DEPLOYED ABROAD
an internet consulting agency in Osaka,
are allowing staff to doze off during work
hours, also known as inemuri, which loosely In October 2017, a bill was passed to stop
translates to ‘sleeping while present’. Russian soldiers from posting pictures and
Managers view napping as relief from the extra blogging about their endeavours as they can
hours and eff ort those workers put in to make them unintentionally reveal top-secret details about
so tired. The only expectation is that members of the their location and mission. A soldier’s social
staff should sit upright while sleeping. media post helped verify Russia’s involvement
in East Ukraine — information that Russia
would have liked to keep hidden.
BOTSWANA: LEGAL MINIMUM AGE FOR CRIMINAL ACTS IS
EIGHT YEARS OLD
FRANCE: IT IS ILLEGAL TO ADORN
RELIGIOUS DRESS OR ACCESSORIES IN
PUBLIC EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
In Botswana, a child of eight years and above
can be convicted of a crime, and receive the
same punishment as an adult who committed From March 15th, 2004 onwards, this rule
the same off ense, if it can be proved that applied to all religions, although it was
the child knew the diff erence from right and suspected to help limit the use of Muslim
wrong whilst performing the act. headscarves. This ruling has particularly raised
concerns about people’s right to self-expression
and freedom, and has defi nitely aff ected the
general Sikh population.

SAUDI ARABIA: CHESS IS BANNED IN SAUDI ARABIA BY
ESTEEMED ISLAMIC CLERIC
SOUTH AFRICA: ANY UPLOADED IMAGE OF YOUR SEMI-DRESSED
OR NAKED CHILD IS CONSIDERED PORNOGRAPHY
How funny then that the World Chess
Federation has agreed to let Saudi Arabia
host the World Rapid and Blitz Championship
this year. Although the cleric’s ruling is not National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) claimed
supported by the state, all players are gravely that any social media posts of their naked
weighing the pros and cons of attending. or semi-naked child makes parents liable
for prosecution under pornography laws —
regardless of their intentions.

NAMIBIA AND SOUTHERN AFRICA: CAPTIVE-BRED HUNTING OF
LIONS IS LEGAL ON PRIVATE GAME RESERVES UNITED KINGDOM: A GRAFFITI ARTIST CAN BE JAILED
ALONGSIDE MURDERERS AND RAPISTS
While Botswana has banned all hunting, its
neighbours in Southern Africa and beyond
have not joined in on the ‘ban’ wagon. Lions A graffi ti artist can be subjected to
are bred in captivity for the sole purpose of thousands of pounds in fi nes and/or jail
trophy hunting by foreign visitors in private time. The harshest penalty a juvenile can
game reserves. Trophy hunting usually receive is two years in prison, whereas
costs between US$55,000 to US$350,000, those above 18 years old can be sent to
depending on the grandiosity and rarity of prison for 10 years. Sometimes punishments
the species. can be harsh when charges are changed
from vandalism to conspiracy, due to the
organised nature of the crime.

SINGAPORE: IT IS LEGAL FOR
SINGAPOREAN MEN TO RAPE NORTH KOREA: IF YOU ARE FOUND
THEIR WIVES GUILTY OF A CRIME, THREE
GENERATIONS OF YOUR FAMILY
There was blanket immunity for men until HAVE TO SUFFER THE
2007. Since then, there have been some CONSEQUENCES
exceptions to the law, so that men can be
convicted for marital rape, but only when the If you are punished for a crime in North
couple is separated and offi cial proceedings Korea, you are jailed along with your
have begun for separation, divorce or a protection whole family. The next two generations
order. Unfortunately, many other countries also born in the prison will also have to live
follow this law, but Singapore’s ‘fi rst-world’ status there for their entire lives.
makes it more controversial.

ALL- A C CESS INT O B ANGK OK ’ S C ONTEMP OR AR Y INDIAN LIFEST YLE