Hajar Meddah is the Aziz Fellow at The Bureau of Investigative Journalism. She loves solo travel and sometimes writes book and play reviews. She can be found on Twitter @beetrootblast.


Hajar

Photography by Tim Gouw, Miko Guziuk & Mati Manego

Like any aspect of human life, travel is constantly subject to discussions about ethics, responsibilities and obligations. The average conscientious traveller is concerned about everything from the environmental impact of their trip to their potential contribution to inhumane practices. And so, unsurprisingly, the internet has spat out a variety of tools to quell all these concerns, rating countries and their human rights abuses and breezily summarising a nation’s ethical stances in the space of a short listicle entry.

Although digestible, these answers are limited and occasionally short-sighted, with the same handful of countries cropping up in lists repeatedly (think Egypt, China, Saudi Arabia, etc.). And while these countries have muddy ethical legacies, Western nations are conspicuously absent despite their recurrent human rights abuses. From France’s suppression of religious minorities to the U.S.’s disproportionate incarceration rate of ethnic minorities, abundant evidence points to blatant international human rights abuses. This suggests that the desire to champion human rights, and the travel recommendations they inform, are often subject to the same political agendas present in other conversations about humanitarian intervention.

Often the term ‘human rights’ in everyday conversation is directly synonymous with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a document published in 1948 that established the 30 rights and freedoms to which all humans are entitled. These include everything from a right to education to freedom of thought and religion. However, countries are free to pick and choose which rights and liberties they transform into legislation, so each nation’s domestic stance differs.

As a result, interpretations of human rights are a lot more varied and context-dependent; there’s no singular one-size-fits-all definition. When the phrase is bandied about on travel websites, it’s often not exclusively in reference to the UDHR but instead a broader set of beliefs that also encompasses the author’s personal ethical views.

When it comes to travel, concern for the wellbeing of communities internationally has prompted effective and significant boycotts. From the 30-year Anti-Apartheid Movement that boycotted South Africa to Boycott, Divest Sanctions that boycotted and continues to boycott Israel/Occupied Palestine and even the boycott of Burma requested by Aung San Suu Kyi, boycotts remain impressive tools of mass resistance and solidarity. In an ideal context, debilitating a state (or an entity) in an economic, reputational and even cultural capacity enables community members to apply significant pressure on regimes, despots and military forces.

As travel becomes an industry that promises cultural immersion alongside the opportunity to contribute to social change, travellers are reluctant to travel to locations where their money or their presence appears to disrupt the lives of these local communities. Although internalising a sense of personal responsibility is a valuable approach to travel, it is essential to remember that travelling to a location does not necessarily equate to a political endorsement of the nation’s stances or transgressions.

With tourism boycotts, travellers must ensure they are well-informed and understand what they are boycotting and the end goal of the boycott itself. Unless a community explicitly calls for a tourism boycott, tourists can inadvertently harm locals dependent on tourism by depriving them of tourism dollars and further enshrining the country in mystery and ambiguity. 

The travel industry is responsible for 1 in every ten jobs internationally

. Travellers only need to look at the aftermath of the Covid-19 lockdowns to see the harm no travel can cause to a country.

Additionally, boycotts are not universally and progressive movements despite their radical left-wing origins. For example, in 2017, a Saudi Arabia-led coalition initiated a boycott of Qatar due to their alleged support of terrorist activities and, specifically, the nation’s relationship with Iran. And while Qatar is a resource-rich country not dependent on tourism, it’s a perfect demonstration of how boycotts are used to apply political pressure internationally. Similarly, although initially posed as humanitarian stances, embargos against Cuba and sanctions imposed against Iran often shroud more calculated political intentions to destabilise a country financially.

When well-planned and well-researched, tourism can bring under-supported communities the much-needed revenue and even publicity that they need. Travel is an ideal opportunity for personal and cultural exchange and is testimony to how first-hand experience can entirely transform opinions and mindsets. No matter how well-versed an individual is on a subject, visiting the location and interacting with the people can offer an insight inaccessible from abroad.


However, boycotts are essential tools of non-violent mass resistance and are some of the most powerful acts of solidarity. Listening to local communities when they request tourism boycotts bolsters their voices and allows travellers to tap into the spirit of humane travel and political solidarity.

Truthfully, there is no utopia where all humans are afforded equal rights; instead, it’s up to the individual traveller to use their moral compasses to decide where and how to spend their money. So Trippin suggests travellers ensure the boycotts they’re following stem from legitimate movements by checking sources such as Human Rights Watch, a solid foundation for increasing your awareness of current affairs internationally.  Also, keep an open mind while travelling around and talking to locals, allowing yourself to access the full range of political opinions to better understand the society around you.

Imposing a rigid moral and ethical framework on travel destinations is excessive and not necessarily the best option, instead substituting vague blanket boycotts for conscientious spending and support is an excellent place to begin. In fact, Trippin has created a travel tool that is a perfect starting point for increasing the 

Can I Travel to a Country With Bad Human Rights?

Photography by Jameela Elfaki and Hassan Raja 

Halal tourism is one of the travel industry’s fastest growing sectors, with companies and communities around the world developing new tools to facilitate this form of travel for Muslims.

An increasingly lucrative market, halal travel is designed with Muslims in mind, primarily taking into consideration a five-a-day prayer schedule, specific dietary requirements and the need for segregated facilities.

Travel has always been at the heart of Islam. Hajj, a major pillar of Islam, is an obligatory (terms and conditions apply) pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia conducted over five days in the final month of the Islamic Hijri (‘migratory’) lunar calendar. Annually, almost 2.5 million people perform Hajj, and according to 

 more than 19 million Muslims performed Umrah (also known as ‘minor pilgrimage’) in 2017. Although the pilgrimage travel sector is firmly established and well-placed when it comes to catering for Muslims as they fulfill their spiritual and religious duties, the broader world of travel often falls short.

For practising and non-practising Muslims alike, traversing borders can present challenging experiences. While the securitisation of Muslims remains well-documented, the abundance of resources that exist are lacking when it comes to what follows, such as guidance on the logistics of pilgrimage travel once a destination has been reached.

Amongst my family and friends there’s a commonly discussed gap in accessible guidance which has regularly discouraged them from travelling beyond Muslim or certain European countries, for fear of facing the unknown. However, our religious identity shouldn’t limit the way we travel the world. Simply put, the best preparation for a journey abroad, no matter the religious background of the traveller, is to research. For each Islamic requirement, there’s a way to tackle it.

First and foremost, I strongly recommend taking the time to figure out what the cuisine of the country you’re visiting looks like. Make sure to specifically focus on regional cuisines and not just national ones. Navigating meat-heavy cuisines can be more difficult and may require preparation. I recommend learning all the terms for pork, meat and chicken because ‘meat’ as a category doesn’t have the same definition around the world. While travelling in Spain, I quickly realised that when I asked for meals that are sin carne (without meat), I was often still recommended meals with chorizo or chicken in them.

If it seems impossible to avoid meat or cross-contamination, it might be worth adopting a vegetarian or pescatarian diet in certain locations. Some cuisines, such as Indian fare, lend themselves well to vegetarianism. As meat-free diets are becoming increasingly popular and adopted more around the world, there is a wealth of resources available for vegetarian and vegan travel. This, in turn, can be repurposed to make the consumption of halal easier to navigate.

Where possible, I recommend finding the destinations where Muslims and foreigners are most concentrated to get better access to halal food. For example, a friend recently travelled to Tokyo and visited the Asakusa district, where she was able to try halal Japanese dishes.

If you’re observing Ramadan, find out when everything closes. Shops and restaurants in Switzerland often close early, while stores in Germany don’t open at all on a Sunday. Stock up and work around commercial schedules to make sure your suhoor (the pre-dawn meal before the fast begins) and iftar (the sunset meal that breaks the fast) both go smoothly.

While avoiding alcohol may seem straightforward for the most part, it can be included in ingredients featured in desserts, sauces and seemingly inoffensive drinks. I recommend learning the names of regional and national drinks, and understanding their composition, as alcohol may appear without being highlighted on the menu.

It’s good practice to know the locations you’re visiting, and to be aware of where the mosques, and even some non-denominational prayer spaces, are. If these aren’t immediately accessible, carrying a portable and washable prayer mat along with a small bottle of water for wudhu (ablutions) can allow you to pray your salat (prayer) everywhere. Some members of my family and friends prefer to pray in parks, where you’re less likely to be in anyone’s way. I also suggest downloading a prayer app, so you can work out the local prayer times and where the qibla (direction to Mecca) is.

Accommodation is one of the most important things to consider. Although segregated hostel dorm rooms seem Muslim and Hijabi-friendly, many hostels have shared facilities or showers located at a distance from the room, making it more difficult to navigate.

Some spaces can offer segregated facilities, such as women-only beaches and spas, allowing Muslim women who observe the hijab the same experiences as others. It is also worth remembering that accommodation in Muslim countries may also not be the most accommodating. In hotels across Morocco, women are occasionally not permitted to swim in burkinis or modest swimwear. Websites such as 

Unfortunately, Islamophobia appears to be a growing phenomenon globally, from attacks on Muslims in India to suffocating neocolonial secularism in France. It may be the most frightening obstacle when travelling as a Muslim and one that seems the most insurmountable as no amount of preparation can prevent discrimination from happening.

While I don’t agree that Muslims should avoid travelling somewhere due to Islamophobia, it’s important to understand the racist and prejudiced attitudes that exist in order to make a more informed decision. Those who are visibly Muslim – as is the case for hijab-wearing women – often experience higher levels of discrimination. While there is no solution to travelling through areas where Islamophobic attitudes are prevalent, you can mitigate the risk by travelling in groups as part of guided tours or sticking to the well-worn tourist tracks.

On the other hand, it’d be easy to think that some locations aren’t compatible with halal travel. Assia Hamdi, a travel writer for Halal Booking and Halal Trip, says that she has strived to counteract stereotypical depictions of popular destinations. For example, the Balearic Islands seem like notorious party hotspots, but in fact, have rich spiritual and cultural histories that are often overlooked.

Certainly, approaching travel to new countries can be daunting for every kind of traveller but for Muslims who have to consider a plethora of logistics, it can seem almost impossible. However, by seeking out Islam wherever you go, looking for the ummah (the name for the global Muslim community) can be a source of guidance and comfort. As a global diaspora, Muslim communities exist around the world, and taking the time to meet these groups can deepen your insight to the country whilst travelling. Earlier this year, I travelled alone to Mexico where I encountered a Moroccan tourist who recommended some beautiful restaurants in Playa del Carmen. I’m echoing Assia’s advice here, which is to tap into local communities, channelling Islamic qualities of charity and warmth to get the most out of your trip.

In addition Halal Booking and Book Halal Beds, another resource is 

– a well-known travel catering to Muslim travel, predominantly across Europe and Asia. Founded by Elena, the blog offers Muslim-friendly and budget-friendly travel content. Furthermore, 

 provides free online advice and organise group trips internationally. For more research, 

 is an exhaustive online resource and booking site.

The Muslim travel experience is certainly not universal; the complexity and specificity of the process is a sliding scale dependent on several factors including how visibly Muslim you are, racial politics in a destination country and the way you practise. As Assia suggests, adequate preparation and a flexible mindset are the best tools to create an enlightening trip – for both Muslims and non-Muslims alike.