Brunei: stoning of homosexuals and adulterers enters into force

In Brunei, new strict Islamic laws have come into force that punish badual relations between men by stoning to death.

The new Penal Code also provides for the same punishment for those who practice adultery, as well as another range of penalties for crimes such as amputation of the hands and feet. The measure generated an international condemnation.

The sultan of the small nation of Southeast Asia on Wednesday called for a "stronger" Islamic teaching. "I want to see Islamic teachings become stronger," Sultan Hbadbad Bolkiah said in a public speech, according to the AFP news agency.

The gay community of Brunei has expressed its shock and fear of "medieval punishments". "You wake up to find that your neighbors, your family or even the beautiful old lady who sells fried shrimp on the side of the road do not think you're a human, or that you can be stoned," said a homobadual from Brunei to the BBC who did not want to be identified.

What are the penalties provided for in the new penal code? The death penalty will apply to crimes such as rape, adultery, sodomy, theft and insult or defamation of the Prophet Muhammad.

However, bad bad is punished differently than 40 lashes and / or up to 10 years imprisonment. Flogging in public will also be imposed for abortion and the robbery will be punished for amputation.

Other changes include the criminalization of "persuading, speaking or exhorting" Muslim children under the age of 18 to "recognize the teachings of other religions outside of Islam".

The laws apply mainly to Muslims, although in some respects non-Muslims are also included.

The wealth

Brunei, on the island of Borneo, is ruled by Sultan Hbadbad Bolkiah, who at 72 is one of the richest men in the world thanks to oil and gas exports from his country.

The population of Brunei is essentially Malay and benefits from generous state donations and does not pay taxes.

The sultan is the owner of Brunei's investment agency, which ranks among the best in the world, including the Dorchester in London and the Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles.

boycott

Several actors and celebrities from Hollywood and other countries have called for a boycott of luxury hotels with links to Brunei.

American actress and television presenter Ellen DeGeneres – who is a bad – urged users of her Twitter account to "go to the action" and ask that "we must do something now".

This campaign joined other actors such as actor George Clooney, who said the new laws constituted a "violation of human rights," wrote filmmaker Dustin Lance Black: " If you continue to stay or attend the Beverley Hills Hotel, you are guilty of financially supporting these murderers. "

For its part, Amnesty International (AI) has urged Brunei to "immediately suspend" the application of new sentences.

"To legalize such cruel and inhumane sentences is appalling," said Rachel Chhoa-Howard, an AI researcher in Brunei, in a statement. "Some of the possible offenses should not even be considered crimes, including consensual bad between adults of the same bad," he added.

Why are Islamic laws now enforced?

Brunei announced the controversial measures for the first time in 2013, but implementation was delayed as officials resolved practical details and opposition from human rights groups.

The sultan announced that the new penal code would enter into full force over several years.

The first phase, which covered crimes with prison sentences and fines, was implemented in 2014. But those considering amputation and stoning were postponed to the government's publication of a statement announcing the full implementation of sharia law as of Wednesday.

Matthew Woolfe, founder of the human rights group "The Brunei Project," said that these measures could be related to the weakening of the country's economy.

"According to one theory, the government could strengthen its power in the face of a deterioration of the economy likely to cause unrest in the future," Woolfe told the BBC.

Linked to this is the Sultanate's interest in attracting more investment from the Muslim world and more Islamic tourists, he said. "This could be seen as a way to attract this market."

Woolfe added that the government may be hoping to get out without anyone noticing.

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How did the inhabitants of Brunei react?

A gay citizen of Brunei, who is seeking asylum in Canada after being accused of sedition, said the impact of the new penal code is already being felt.

"The gay community of Brunei has never been open, but when Grindr arrived (an application for gay dating) that allowed many to communicate in secret, now they tell me that almost no one is there. use more, "said Dr. Shahiran S Shahrani. at the BBC.

"They are afraid to talk to a policeman posing as gay, it has not happened yet, but the new laws are scary," he said.

Another man, who is not homobadual but who gave up Islam, said he felt "scared and stunned".

"Under sharia, he could incur the death penalty for apostasy," he said without wanting to be identified.

However, a homobadual expressed the hope that the laws do not apply much.

"Honestly, I'm not very scared because the government here often claims to be harsh with punishments, but it could still happen even though they're still not common."