​Americans Arrested Abroad

Part III: Travel in a Dangerous Land—How to Protect Yourself

In our last post in this series, we covered the various countries where the justice system seems to work—and ones where it doesn’t. Many of these countries are on the U.S.’ official “Do Not Travel” list, which you can access here. However, sometimes Americans still make it to these countries because of vocation (e.g. journalists), family obligations, humanitarian work, or even just to visit. Otto Warmbier, who was detained for 17 months in North Korea and ended up losing his life, went there with a tour group run by a Chinese travel company. 
 
If you have any choice in the matter, the safest way to avoid detainment in a potentially hostile land is to cancel your trip. But if you must head into a country where an arrest could cause more than the usual tsuris, such as one with a communist or precarious government, ensure that you make it back home by taking a few precautions.

1. Do Your Research
Every country has different laws, so what may be commonplace in Iowa might be illegal in Libya. Make sure you know what could get you in trouble before you board your plane. For instance, in Russia, a homosexual couple holding hands and smoking in a church while playing Pokemon Go would be breaking three different laws—one against homosexuality, one against public smoking, and one against insulting “religious feelings” by playing Pokemon Go in a church (yes, someone was really arrested for that).
 
Women need to pay special attention when visiting countries where they may have fewer rights than men. For example, in countries like Yemen, a woman cannot receive medical care without permission from a “male guardian.” A regulation like that could be an issue if a female traveler finds herself in ill or injured during a trip.

2. Be Prepared
Once you’re familiar with the laws of the country you’re planning on visiting, be prepared to follow them. This may seem obvious, but sometimes complying with these laws requires some planning. For instance, a woman visiting a country with restrictive gender laws may need to travel with someone who either is or is posing as her husband in order to ensure that she has the legal power to do what she needs to do while in that country. She may also need to pack scarves and modest clothing to comply with local laws regarding attire.
 
3. Be Respectful
When visiting a country with oppressive laws forbidding political activism, homosexuality, or women’s rights, being respectful may be easier said than done. However, unless you are willing to face the potentially painful consequences of making a statement, you must learn about and respect the country’s laws during your visit.

Doing anything untoward—sometimes something as small as writing a political message on an egg in Russia or stealing a poster off a wall in North Korea—could cost you a lot. If you are truly outraged and offended by a country’s outdated laws, plan to pillory them once you’re back on American soil—and do everything to ensure that you live to tell your tale.
 
No Guarantees
Of course, no matter how careful you are, sometimes the worst is unavoidable. In the next installment of this series, we’ll dissect a few cases of Americans who ended up incarcerated abroad. 

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