This Ramadan, those stolen moments in the stairwell with a Twix bar could come at a slightly higher price, at least in Jordan.
According to a newly altered law, eating in public during the Holy Month will carry a heightened fine of 50 Jordanian dinars, with the choice of either one month in jail or 5 additional JDs a day to stay out. This is up from last year’s 15JD fine.
Turns out, skirting the Ramadan fast — which includes abstaining from consuming any food, liquids, smoking and sex — can actually land you with some pretty hefty fines in some MENA countries.
We've gathered up a list of some of the region's laws against eating in public during the Holy Month. Keep in mind, in many of these places, such laws are not often enforced.
Kuwait: $350 fine, or jail time for up to one month.
Egypt: Jail time for up to 3 days, and a fine of 500 Egyptian pounds (about $40), plus one month in jail for restaurant owners who serve food during fasting hours.
Iraq: Jailed for the rest of Ramadan, and released the first day of the Eid holiday (after Ramadan month).
UAE: Not just eating, but drinking and smoking in public could give you 240 hours of community service.
Palestine: Jail time for up to a month.
Saudi Arabia: For Saudi nationals, a judge examines individual cases to determine jail time and a number of lashes. Expats could be kicked out of the country, in addition to a punishment determined by a court.
