Tag: brunei gay rights

Brunei says it won’t enforce death penalty for gay sex

Brunei has backtracked on enforcing laws introduced last month that would have made sex between men and adultery punishable by stoning to death. Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah on Sunday extended a moratorium on the death penalty to cover the new legislation. The rethink follows global outcry over the laws, including boycotts and celebrity protests. While still… Read more »

EU parliament slams Brunei over anti-gay laws

It called laws punishing gay sex with death by stoning ‘retrograde’ but stopped short of introducing sanctions The European Parliament on Thursday (18 April) condemned Brunei’s ‘retrograde’ Islamic laws which punish gay sex with death by stoning. It adopted a resolution that ‘strongly condemns the entry into force of the retrograde Sharia Penal Code; [and]… Read more »

‘It’s dangerous to go out now’: young, gay and scared in Brunei

Draconian new laws have spread unease rather than outright panic in a population that is used to finding ways around legislation A day after it became legally possible to be stoned to death for having gay sex in Brunei, 21-year-old Zain* got a bitter taste of the new reality. Walking down the street in skinny… Read more »

Brunei defends new death penalty law for gay sex

Tiny oil-rich nation issues statement pleading “peace” and “respect” Brunei has defended its decision to pass a new Islamic law introducing the death penalty for adultery and homosexuality. The government issued a statement saying it was an independent country and had the right to do as it wished. Brunei said the new law will come… Read more »

In fear for their lives: The hidden LGBTI community of Brunei

Brunei’s LGBTI community face severe social stigma and the threat of brutal anti-LGBTI laws in the majority Muslim nation ‘I’m extremely scared,’ says Khairul, a young gay man from Brunei. ‘Khairul’ (not his real name) would only speak to GSN under the condition of anonymity out of fear of persecution in his home country. ‘Being… Read more »

The Real Story Behind Brunei’s Sharia Laws Isn’t the One That Gay Rights Groups Are Telling You

Hassanal Bolkiah, the Sultan of Brunei, is a cross between a Bond villain and Pastor Fred Phelps of Westboro Baptist Church. In his oil-rich lair, Bolkiah has devised an evil plot to kill all the gays. At least, that’s what the Western press and U.S. LGBT groups are saying. Nine months ago, the Sultan promised… Read more »

Brunei temporarily halts implementing law stoning gay people

Brunei’s new law mandating the stoning of gay people has been officially delayed. The new penal code that calls for death by stoning for same-sex relations, robbery, insulting or defamation of the Prophet Mohammed as well as a list of other sexually related offences such as rape and adultery was to come into effect April… Read more »

Brunei Law To Allow Death By Stoning For Gay Sex

The United Nations has responded to the nation of Brunei, a sovereign state in southeast Asia, where officials are reportedly set to roll out a new penal code including death by stoning as punishment for same-sex acts. Other offenses referenced in the revision of capital punishment regulations reportedly include “rape, adultery, sodomy, extramarital sexual relations… Read more »

UN condemns Brunei over new law allowing gays to be stoned to death

The United Nations has condemned Brunei for adopting a new penal code that calls for death by stoning for same-sex sexual activity. It has long been a crime in Brunei, but the maximum punishment had been a 10-year prison sentence. However, Brunei, a predominately Muslim state, has now adopted a new penal code that calls… Read more »