Saudi Arabia: You should NEVER do these things - you could go to prison or even face death
SAUDI ARABIA is a country where the laws and customs are vastly different to what most Britons are used to in the UK. If you do these things in the Islamic country you could be sent to prison, or worse, face death.
Saudi Arabia is a Muslim country in which Islamic law is strictly enforced.
This means a plethora of activities or possessions which would cause no problem in the UK could see tourists thrown into prison.
To make matters worse, capital punishment is a legal penalty in Saudi Arabia, so lawbreakers could also face death.
Express.co.uk have looked into the dos and don'ts in Saudi Arabia - and it's a comprehensive list. This is the latest travel advice.
Women should wear conservative, loose-fitting clothes as well as a full-length cloak (abaya) and a headscarf
Banned: Shorts
Islamic codes of behaviour and dress are strictly enforced in Saudi Arabia.
Men are not allowed to wear shorts in public and “women should wear conservative, loose-fitting clothes as well as a full-length cloak (abaya) and a headscarf,” stated the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO).
Banned: Extra-marital sexual relations
Sex outside of marriage is illegal and “can be subject to severe penalties,” said the FCO.
The same goes for adultery. According to Middle East news site, Middle East Eye, the punishment for adultery if not married is 100 lashes and the punishment for adultery if married is death by stoning.
Banned: Being transgender
It’s illegal to be transgender. According to the FCO: “Transgender people travelling to Saudi Arabia are likely to face significant difficulties and risks if this is discovered by the authorities.”
Banned: Alcohol
Alcohol is completely banned in Saudi Arabia. “Penalties for the possession of, or trade in alcohol are severe,” said the FCO.
Tourists also shouldn’t arrive in the country under the influence of alcohol. According to Middle East Eye, the punishment for alcohol is “at the discretion of the judge.”
A British man, aged 74, was arrested after being caught with homemade wine in 2015 and spent more than a year in prison. He was also due to face 360 lashes but was spared due to his age and ill-health.
Locals and expats will often travel over the border to Bahrain if they want to drink or go clubbing.
Banned: Porn
Porn is illegal in Saudi Arabia, just as it is in neighbour United Arab Emirates.
“The possession of pornographic material, or of illustrations of scantily dressed people, especially women, is prohibited,” said the FCO.
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Banned: Drugs
The punishment for smuggling drugs in Saudi Arabia includes the death penalty.
According to Human Rights Watch, Saudi Arabia has executed 48 people since the beginning of 2018, half of them for nonviolent drug crimes. Many more people convicted of drug crimes remain on death row.
Banned: More than one passport
Tourists with more than one passport should travel with just the one document.
“It’s illegal to hold two passports in Saudi Arabia,” said the FCO. “Second passports will be confiscated by the immigration authorities if they’re discovered.
The FCO advise: “You should carry a photocopy of your passport for identification. Make sure you have included emergency contact details.”