Brunei begins to apply the stoning penalty to those who commit adultery and homosexuality

US Representative George Clooney called for a boycott of nine luxury hotels in Europe and the United States. Brunei has avenged its intention to impose the death penalty on people arrested for adultery or having sex with homosexuals.

Clooney has published a list of nine hotels which, he said, was confirmed by the Brunei Investment Authority and owned by Sultan Hassan al-Bolkiah.

In an article on the American film news site Deadline.com, Clooney wrote that it was impossible to contribute to the economy of this country, which stoned and whipped its citizens to death.

But what exactly is the story?

The Sultanate of Brunei will apply stoning to death to those who practice sex outside of marriage and homosexuals from next week, according to the British Telegraph and the Independent newspaper.

Starting next Wednesday, sharia law will be applied in Brunei in defiance of many critics suspended since 2014, according to the Telegraph.

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Homosexuality is already illegal in Brunei, but it will now be considered a capital offense and this law will only apply to Muslims and only Muslims will be monitored.

Human rights organizations have exerted considerable pressure to prevent the entry into force of this law, according to the Telegraph.

jurists

Amnesty International has called for the immediate termination of law enforcement projects, which allows the amputation of child members, according to Amnesty International.

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Rachel Shoahwa Howard, an Amnesty International researcher, must immediately take steps to condemn the brutal implementation of these sanctions in Brunei. The fight against such cruel and inhuman laws is necessary. Some practices should not be considered crimes, including consensual sex. Between same-sex adults ".

"This move to Brunei is a shock in return and a blow to Western tourism," said Peter Touchle, an independent human rights activist. "The talent of the gay community is to flee the country, and Brunei is a member of the Commonwealth Organization.This law violates the organization must address to the general secretary of the organization against this move . "

According to ABC News, Brunei was the first country in Southeast Asia to apply Islamic law in 2014 in three stages: the first provided for fines and imprisonment for acts such as extra-marital pregnancy, the abstention of Friday prayers, the ban on selling alcohol and severe penalties On public ceremonies at Christmas.

However, he postponed the application of Phases II and III and related to criminal sanctions arising from Sharia law, such as stoning as a punishment for adultery and having to cut off hands and hands. feet in punishment of theft.

The international pressure campaign against Brunei in 2014 included the boycott of the Beverly Hills hotel of the Brunei government.

Three April

The Telegraph newspaper announced that a memorandum dated December 29 in the Brunei prosecutor's office indicated that sharia law would be enforced as of April 3.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Religious Affairs in Brunei said that Sultan Hassan al-Bolkiah should make a statement on April 3. "It is only after the announcement of the Sultan that we will know the date of introduction of the new laws," he told AFP.

However, a number of human rights organizations such as ASEAN SOGIE, based in Manila, capital of the Philippines, confirmed that the date of application of the Shari'a criminal section to Brunei would be the three of April. According to ABC News.

History of our nation

When 72-year-old Sultan Hassan Bolkiah, one of the richest people in the world, declared Islamic law promulgated in 2014, he said: "In the great history of our country."

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The sultan then said the law would not change the policy of his country and officials said the judges would have an opinion on the verdicts.

The civil courts in Brunei are based on British law, which came into force when the Sultanate was under British protection. In the past, sharia courts were limited to family matters such as marriage and inheritance.

The United Nations has expressed "deep concern" about this.

"According to international law, stoning is torture and any other punishment that constitutes cruel or degrading treatment must be prohibited," said a spokesman for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

"We call on the government to postpone the implementation of the amended Penal Code and to conduct a thorough review of it to ensure its compliance with international human rights standards." The amended penal code "may encourage violence and discrimination against women".

Brunei, a small and rich sultanate, has about 450,000 inhabitants and is located near Indonesia and Malaysia, the most moderate and Muslim country in the world.