ROME, ITALY - APRIL 3: Radical Party activists are demonstrating against the introduction of Sharia, the Koranic law, in Brunei Darussalam, which also provides for stoning for homosexuals on April 3, 2019 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Stefano Montesi - Corbis/Getty Images)

Global outrage as Brunei will stone individuals who engage in gay sex to death

Brunei has enacted laws that will put the LGBT community in the Asian country at risk despite international outrage.

Staying true to the country’s determination to enact sharia law, a law has taken effect that will stone anyone caught engaging in gay sex. The same penalty follows for adultery and the limbs of anyone that steals will be amputated.

Under the new law, lesbian sex carries a different penalty of 40 strokes of the cane with a maximum of 10 years in jail.

In his speech on Wednesday, the Sultan of Brunei said the country’s political system “preserves and guarantees the rights of all the people regardless of their race and faith” and pushed for stronger and visible Islamic teachings in the country.

Spokesman for the United Nations Stephane Dujarric said the Secretary-General Antonio Guterres believes human rights of individuals should be held without discrimination.

“The legislation approved is in clear violation with the principles expressed,” he said. “So long as people face criminalisation, bias and violence based on their sexual orientation, gender identity or sex characteristics, we must redouble our efforts to end these violations.”

Stephen Cockburn, Deputy Director of Global Issues at Amnesty International has condemned the law in a statement adding that “the international community must continue to condemn Brunei’s decision to put these cruel penalties into practice.”

Phil Robertson who is the deputy Asia director for Human Rights Watch have also condemned the law and stating that the country’s new penal code “is barbaric to the core, imposing archaic punishments for acts that shouldn’t even be crimes.” They have also called for the law to be suspended.

Alan Lowenthal along with Ed Markey have reintroduced legislation in the United States Congress called the International Human Rights Defense Act to help protect the human rights of LGBTQ people around the globe.

Influential people have called for a boycott of businesses and investments of the Sultan of Brunei including the Dorchester in London and the Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles.

Hollywood actor, George Clooney has also asked for a boycott in an opinion piece for Deadline called, ‘Boycott Sultan Of Brunei’s Hotels Over Cruel Anti-Gay Laws.’ The hotels in question told CNN that they value LGBTQ rights.

In a statement last Saturday signed by the Prime Minister’s Office, the country maintains that it is a sovereign Islamic country and will fully implement the law to maintain peace and order in the country.

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