Shocking But True: 5 Cities Where `Dying` Is Actually Illegal

The mayor of the French city of Cugnaux imposed a ban on dying after failing to obtain permission from authorities to open a new cemetery. This unconventional method worked, and the authorities eventually conceded and granted permission for a new cemetery.

The mayor of the French city Le Lavandou had to ban dying in the year 2000 because permission for a new cemetery was denied due to "environmental concerns." The mayor himself stated that the ban was "an absurd law to combat an absurd situation."

The main city of Norway's Svalbard Island, Longyearbyen, has a 'no death policy.' This isn't just because it's a remote location; the real issue is that bodies buried here do not decompose due to the extreme sub-zero temperatures. As a result, the city's cemetery has not accepted new burials since 1950.

The mayor of the medieval hill town Sellia in Italy issued an order prohibiting residents from falling ill within the city limits and banned dying as a measure to combat the town's declining population. People who did not take good care of themselves were subjected to higher taxes as punishment.

According to the Shinto religion, the island of Itsukushima in Japan is considered a sacred place. Until 1868, dying or giving birth was not allowed here. To this day, there are no cemeteries or hospitals on the island.