ISLAMABAD – Brunei on Wednesday introduced harsh new sharia laws, includingdeath by stoning for adultery and gay sex, despite a storm of globalcriticism from politicians, celebrities and rights groups.
The tough penal code in the tiny country on tropical Borneo island — ruledby the all-powerful Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah — fully came into forcefollowing years of delays.
The laws, which also include amputation of hands and feet for thieves, makeBrunei the first place in East or Southeast Asia to have a sharia penalcode at the national level, joining several mostly Middle Eastern countriessuch as Saudi Arabia.
Rape and robbery are also punishable by death under the code and many ofthe new laws, such as capital punishment for insulting the ProphetMohammed, apply to non-Muslims as well as Muslims.
The decision to push ahead with the punishments has sparked alarm aroundthe world, with the United Nations labelling them “cruel and inhumane” andcelebrities, led by actor George Clooney and pop star Elton John, callingfor Brunei-owned hotels to be boycotted.
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In a public address to mark a special date in the Muslim calendar, thesultan called for stronger Islamic teachings but did not mention the newpenal code.
“I want to see Islamic teachings in this country grow stronger,” he said inthe nationally televised speech at a convention centre near the capitalBandar Seri Begawan. – APP/AFP
