peripathetic

Hail to the Great Watermelon!
Turkmenistan is a weird country. Its President, Saparmurat Niyazov, has absolute rule and is a self-designated ruler for life. His personal views are considered to be law, and since he doesn't like men to have beards or long hair it's illegal to be facially hirsute. Gold teeth are out too. He likes a particular type of watermelon and declared a national holiday in its honour.

Except the totalitarian regime persists far beyond these zany stories, and many human rights organisations are gravely concerned.