destruction is usually considered the worst penalisation possible for a crime . But what if the offense itself is death ? In several city around the world , municipal official have forbidden occupant to die , by threat of … well , basically nothing . No one has come up with a in effect punishment for the dead just yet .
France and Italy are peculiarly prostrate to declaring demise outlaw , mostly because it ’s has demonstrate to be a successful way to dissent indefensible restriction against burial site expansions . Because when there ’s no way to bury mass , the only acceptable choice is to outlaw the Grim Reaper .
Here are seven town that have urged their residents to become immortal — or at least not die within city limits :
1. SELLIA, ITALY
InAugust , the mayor of this township in southern Italy decreed that getting sick was not an option for residents . With only 537 residents , the majority of whom are over 65 , die might belt down the town itself . So the ban , while unenforceable , is really meant to boost hoi polloi to delay sizable and take care of themselves . Anyone who does n’t get a annual checkup will be fin .
2. CUGNAUX, FRANCE
In 2007 , Cugnaux had two cemeteries with only 17 plot of ground left between them . Unfortunately , because of a in high spirits water mesa , the only land uncommitted to expand the Ithiel Town ’s sepulture earth was on the nearby military air al-Qaida . When the defense ministry settle against allow the Ithiel Town entomb its dead there , Philippe Guérin , the mayor of the southern Gallic village , decreed dying illegal for anyone who did n’t already have a crypt groom to be buried in . Hisprotest lick , and the defense ministry caved .
3. SARPOURENX, FRANCE
Inspired by Cugnaux ’s deterrent example , in 2008 , an overcrowded memorial park led the mayor of the 260 - person village in southwest France to forbid residents from passing on . “ Offenders shall be severely punish , ” theordinance read . However , the 70 - year - quondam mayordefied his own edictlater that year .
4. BIRITIBA MIRIM, BRAZIL
In 2005 , faced with a shortfall of space in the local burial ground , the mayor of this Brazilian town cast out last . Cremation is frowned upon by the Catholic Church , and there were no more burying plots or crypts leave . The farming residential area , which provides much of Sao Paulo ’s fruits and veggie , could not elaborate its cemetery because of a 2003 law regulating sphere with mellow piddle table or special conservation designation . A new cemetery wasopened in 2010 , so presumptively people are allowed to go on dying now . But for how long ?
5. LANJARON, SPAIN
In 1999 , the city manager of this township in southerly Spain also face a grievous dearth . In response , he forbid his citizens to die until municipal official could feel space for a new cemetery . The rescript order folk “ to take utmost care of their health so they do not give way until town Radclyffe Hall takes the necessary whole tone to take land suitable for our departed to rest in glory , ” according to anAPstoryat the time .
6. FALCIANO DEL MASSICO, ITALY
In 2012 , this 3700 - person town outside Naples decided tooutlaw deathas a way to nudge a neighboring townspeople into permit it share graveyard distance ( the neighboring town had been charge non - occupant more for a plot of ground ) . Falciano del Massico did not have a cemetery of its own . alas , two senior citizens break the law . As of 2014 , the city was still fighting to get a young cemetery .
7. LONGYEARBYEN, NORWAY
This Arctic Ithiel Town , with a population of some 2000 people , is the world ’s northernmost settlement , and is mostly a mining Ithiel Town . In 1950 , realise that bodies in the local cemetery were not decomposing , the townspeople stopped allowing new burials . The bodies veil under the permafrost are so inviolate that they have actually allowed scientists to examine the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918 , because the virus was still conserve with its swallow dupe [ PDF ] . As Norway ’s wellness benefits do n’t extend that far into the Arctic , if you get brainsick , you have togo elsewhere .
[ h / t : The Guardian ]
