Simple Acts That Can Land You In Prison

If you are considering travelling anytime soon, you may wish to rethink doing some of these acts in the countries below. The fact that these basic activities can land some one in prison is shocking. Stand with Amnesty International and be a voice for change.

A Woman Driving - Saudi Arabia

In Saudi Arabia, a woman driving a car is an illegal activity. This day-to-day obstacle has proven to be a demoralising deterrent for many women from pursuing an education, a career and even maintaining their own healthcare.

A number of activists who took part in the Women Driving campaign (26 October 2013) were detained by the Ministry of Interior. They were then forced to sign pledges not to repeat the “offence” before being released.

Some brave women will defy the ban again on Saturday 29 March.

Breaking Up a Brawl - Burma

In Burma, Dr Tun Aung was asked by the police to come and help break up a riot between Rakhine Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims.

Eyewitness accounts say that, when he got there, he actively tried to calm the crowd.

But that night he was seized by the authorities for being connected with the riots, and was held incommunicado, for months.

He is now serving a staggering 17 year sentence in prison, where he is suffering with a pituitary tumour.

Sending a Message of Love - Cameroon

Roger Jean-Claude Mbede was jailed for sending a text message to another man saying,“I’m very much in love with you”.

Mbede told Amnesty International that he had been sexually assaulted and starved whilst in prison. In 2012 he was granted a provisional release on medical grounds and underwent a hernia operation. According to his lawyer, Roger was denied adequate treatment and care by prison authorities, neighbours and his own family.

Roger died in Jan 2014 without seeing justice for the persecution he faced, simply for loving someone who happened to be of the same-sex.

Raising a Flag - Indonesia

Filep Karma is a former civil servant. On 1 December 2004 he took part in a peaceful ceremony in Abepura, Papua Province. During the event the “Morning Star” flag – a banned symbol of Papuan independence – was raised.

Filep Karma was arrested at the site of the ceremony. He was reportedly beaten as he was transported to the police station. On the 26 May 2005 he was charged and convicted of rebellion.

Filep Karma is currently serving 15 years in prison.

Punk Rock in a Church - Russia

In March 2012, Pussy Riot performers - Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Maria Alekhina and Ekaterina Samutsevich - were arrested and charged with "hooliganism" based on "religious hatred" after singing a protest song.

Their actions sparked a new law which banned "actions insulting religious feelings" following the punk group's performance in Moscow's main Russian Orthodox Church.

The law remains in place but the final two members were freed under Russia's 'Amnesty Law' in December 2013, after almost two years behind bars.

Posting a Cartoon on Facebook - Tunisia

When Jabeur Mejri, aged 29, posted a cartoon of the Prophet Mohamed on his Facebook profile in March 2012, he thought he was living in a new Tunisia that respected human rights and freedoms.

Jabeur’s posts were spotted by two lawyers who deemed them offensive to Islam. Within days Jabeur had been charged with ‘undermining public morals’ and ‘attacking sacred values through actions’. He was ordered to pay a hefty fine and jailed for seven and a half years.

Join Amnesty International's Individuals at Risk campaign and help to achieve change on these issues.