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(#8) Henry Kohen Was Arrested In Hong Kong Over Visa Issues
In May 2017, British math-rock band TTNG and American musician Henry "Mylets" Kohen were arrested at the Hong Kong venue Hidden Agenda. Apparently, there were concerns over the band's visas and work permits. Police offers with dogs and immigrations officials took the musicians away in vans.
According to the Hidden Agenda's Facebook page, the Immigration Department claimed that the venue had "hired illegal immigrants to perform."
Fortunately, TTNG and Kohen were released from police custody the next day.
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(#7) Andrew Berends Was Arrested In Nigeria For Filmmaking
In 2008, American documentary filmmaker Andrew Berends and his interpreter were arrested in Nigeria on spying charges. Berends was working on a film that detailed oil-production in Nigeria. While he was only held overnight, Berend told The New York Times, "They didn’t let me sleep or eat or drink water for the first 36 hours."
A spokesman for the military, Lt. Col. Sagir Musa, said that the arrest was "for his own safety. If something happens to him, it’s an embarrassment to the security agencies. It’s not normal times in the area right now. The S.S.S. will investigate him, and once they are satisfied they will release him, God willing."
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(#5) Tony Kim Was Detained In North Korea For Supposedly Hostile Acts
In April 2017, American professor Kim Sang-duk - also known as Tony Kim - was arrested as he was boarding a flight out of Pyongyang International Airport in North Korea. Kim had just finished several weeks of teaching at Pyongyang University of Science and Technology.
Originally, North Korean officials didn't give a reason for Kim's arrest. Later, they said he had committed "hostile acts" and was plotting to overthrow the government. Many people believe that Kim hadn't broken any laws at all; instead, he was detained to send a message to the United States as tensions are ramped up between the two countries.
New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson told CBS News, "They use... these detainees from the United States as bargaining chips. They always want something in return."
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(#2) A Woman Was Jailed In Dubai For Ignoring Men
In February 2016, an unidentified 25-year-old American woman was jailed in Dubai. She was allegedly approached by two men as she waited for a taxi at the Abu Dhabi International Airport, and "refused to engage with them."
The woman was charged with insulting the United Arab Emirates. However, a psychological evaluation showed that she was mentally ill, and she was acquitted.
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(#6) Michael Fay Was Caned In Singapore For Vandalism
In 1994, 19-year-old Michael P. Fay was sentenced to four months in jail and six strokes with a rattan cane in Singapore. He had been charged with two counts of vandalism and possession of a stolen road sign. He described the effects of the caning:
"The skin did rip open... There was some blood. I mean let's not exaggerate, and let's not say a few drops or that the blood was gushing out. It was in between the two. It's like a bloody nose... The first couple of days it was very hard to sit."
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(#3) Kian Tajbakhsh
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Scholar Kian Tajbakhsh was arrested in Tehran, Iran in 2009. He was accused of endangering national security, contacting foreign elements, and espionage, and sentenced to 15 years in prison. The charges likely stemmed from his work with the Open Society Institute, a nonprofit aimed at promoting democracy.
Thankfully, Tajbakhsh was allowed to leave Iran in 2016 so that he would be able to work at Columbia University in New York.
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About This Tool
More and more people like to travel to foreign countries, but the relaxing and interesting trip may become unfortunate. Some travelers are even imprisoned in foreign prisons for minor crimes, perhaps they are unaware of their wrong behaviors. Because of differences in culture and customs, certain countries or regions impose severe penalties on American crimes that are considered trivial.
It is necessary to learn about some foreign tourism knowledge and local taboos, customs, etc. Unfortunately, travelers often realize the seriousness of certain behaviors only when they wear handcuffs. These crimes can lead to jail sentences or worse punishments. The random tool lists random 9 Americans who were punished for minor offenses in foreign countries.
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