In some parts of the world, letting one out could literally land you in trouble with the law. Sounds unbelievable?
Well, welcome to the bizarre case of Malawi, a country in southeastern Africa where public farting once sparked a serious political debate.
What really happened in Malawi?
Back in 2011, the Malawian government was reviewing a new piece of legislation called the Local Courts Bill. It was designed to regulate public behaviour and give more power to local courts on minor offences.
But tucked somewhere in that bill was a clause that banned “vitiating the atmosphere.”
Now, most people interpreted that to mean polluting the environment. But when reporters asked Malawi’s Justice Minister at the time, George Chaponda, what it meant, his response shocked the world: “Just go to the toilet when you feel like farting. Don’t fart in public.”
Yes. The minister literally suggested that public farting would now be a criminal offence under the new bill.
The world went wild
Unsurprisingly, this odd interpretation made headlines everywhere. Memes, late-night jokes, and news reports flooded the internet. People joked about fart police, silent-but-deadly offences, and holding in gas for fear of arrest.
Even the BBC and CNN covered it. It was that serious.
Of course, some Malawians were embarrassed that their country had become the butt of international jokes, pun intended.
So, can you actually get arrested for farting?
Technically? No. The law was never meant to criminalise farting. In fact, shortly after the minister’s statement, Malawi’s Solicitor General came forward to clarify the confusion.
He said the term “vitiate the atmosphere” had nothing to do with bodily functions; it was actually about air pollution and environmental offences.
The farting drama? Just a massive, slightly hilarious misunderstanding.
But it’s not just Malawi…
Malawi might be the most famous example, but it’s not the only place where weird laws exist.
- In Florida, USA, it’s illegal to pass gas in a public place after 6 p.m. on Thursdays. (Okay, this one’s more urban legend than law, but it’s widely quoted.)
- In Singapore, while farting isn’t illegal, chewing gum used to be, and you could be fined for spitting it out in public.
- In Japan, loud bodily functions in public (including burping or flatulence) are heavily frowned upon, even if not outright criminal.
