Brunei accused of ‘abusive lobbying’ before EU death-penalty vote

Resolution would condemn Muslim-majority sultanate for imposing death penalty for gay sex

EU officials on Wednesday accused Brunei of “rude” and “abusive” lobbying against a resolution condemning the Muslim-majority sultanate for imposing the death penalty for gay sex and adultery.

Brunei has drawn global condemnation from the United Nations, governments and celebrities for Islamic laws introduced on April 3rd that also punish rape with death and theft with amputation.

On Thursday, MEPs are to vote on a resolution that “strongly condemns” the laws, which allow for sodomy to be punished by stoning to death.

Ahead of the vote, a Brunei official visited MEPs’ offices unannounced with a letter defending the southeast Asian nation’s strengthening of Sharia laws, and asked for meetings.

“It’s a bit rude to be honest and a bit pushy,” Bastien Valtille, who works for French MEP Pascal Durand, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. “If we had known before what was inside the letter we wouldn’t have even accepted it.”

Brunei said in the letter to MEPs it “does not criminalise nor has any intention to victimise a person’s status based on sexual orientation or belief, including same-sex relations”.

“The criminalisation of adultery and sodomy is to safeguard the sanctity of family lineage and marriage of individual Muslims, particularly women,” it said.

Melanie Vogel, a political adviser, accused Brunei in an email to The Greens/European Free Alliance parliamentary group of organising “abusive lobbying action right now ... distributing those mind-blowing documents”.

Officials at Brunei’s embassy to the EU referred a request for comment to Naqib Adnan, the diplomatic mission’s second secretary. Mr Adnan declined to comment when reached by phone.

A draft of the European Parliament resolution, which staff said was likely to be adopted on Thursday, “strongly condemns the entry into force of the retrograde Sharia Penal Code; (and) urges the Bruneian authorities to immediately repeal it.”

It calls on the EU to consider asset freezes and visa bans if the laws are implemented, and to blacklist nine hotels owned the Brunei Investment Agency, including The Dorchester in London and The Beverley Hills Hotel in Los Angeles.

Source: Reuters, Staff, April 17, 2019

University of Aberdeen revokes the Sultan of Brunei's honorary degree

The University of Aberdeen has stripped the Sultan of Brunei of an honorary degree to protest his introduction of the death penalty for people who engage in gay sex.

It comes amid an international outcry over the nation's new Islamic criminal laws punishing gay sex and adultery by stoning offenders to death.

University of Aberdeen principal George Boyne said the Sultan's introduction of the new penal code is contrary to the institution's 'strong commitment to the value of diversity and inclusion'.

The university announced on Wednesday that it has revoked the Sultan's honorary degree - awarded in 1995 - in an unprecedented move following a vote by the senate, its academic body.

Professor Boyne said: 'The sultan was awarded an honorary degree by our university in 1995.

'It was given at a time when the university had operated a successful exchange programme with its counterpart in Brunei, and when the sultan had encouraged links between Brunei and Aberdeen due to his interest in our geology and petroleum engineering research.

'In light of recent developments, the university undertook a review of how this award now fits with our values.

'Today I can inform you that the honorary degree has been revoked following a vote by senate, our academic body, which approved a recommendation from our honorary degrees committee.'

'The University of Aberdeen is proud of our foundational purpose of being open to all and dedicated to the pursuit of truth in the service of others.

'The introduction by the sultan of the new penal code is contrary to our strong commitment to the value of diversity and inclusion.'

Source: Mail Online, Sebastian Murphy-Bates, April 17, 2019

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