Brunei is introducing strict new Islamic laws that make sex between men an offence punishable by stoning to death.
The new measures, that come into force on Wednesday, also cover a range of other crimes including punishment for theft by amputation.
The move has sparked international condemnation.
The sultan of the small south-east Asian nation on Wednesday called for "stronger" Islamic teachings.
"I want to see Islamic teachings in this country grow stronger," Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah said at a public address, according to AFP news agency, without mentioning the new laws.
Brunei's gay community has expressed shock and fear at the "medieval punishments".
"You wake up and realise that your neighbours, your family or even that nice old lady that sells prawn fritters by the side of the road doesn't think you're human, or is okay with stoning," one Bruneian gay man, who did not want to be identified, told the BBC.
What is punishable under the changes to the penal code?
The death penalty would apply to offences such as rape, adultery, sodomy, robbery, and insult or defamation of the Prophet Muhammad.
Lesbian sex however, carries a different penalty of 40 strokes of the cane and/or a maximum of 10 years in jail.
Public flogging would also apply for abortion. And amputation is the punishment for theft.
Other changes include making it a criminal offence to "persuade, tell or encourage" Muslim children under the age of 18 "to accept the teachings of religions other than Islam".
The law mostly applies to Muslims, though some aspects will apply to non-Muslims.
Under the new laws, individuals accused of certain acts will only be convicted if they confess or if there are witnesses.
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Brunei, on the island of Borneo, is ruled by Sultan Hassanal and has grown rich on oil and gas exports.
The 72-year-old sultan heads the Brunei Investment Agency, which owns some of the world's top hotels including the Dorchester in London and the Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles.
This week Hollywood actor George Clooney and other celebrities called for a boycott of the luxury hotels. TV host Ellen DeGeneres also called for people to "rise up", saying "we need to do something now".
Students at the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London have also called for a school building named the Brunei Gallery to be renamed.
Brunei's ruling royals possess a huge private fortune and its largely ethnic-Malay population enjoy generous state handouts and pay no taxes.
Muslims make up about two-thirds of the country's population of 420,000.
Homosexuality was already illegal in Brunei and punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
Brunei has retained the death penalty but has not carried out an execution since 1957.
Is this the first time Islamic law is being introduced in Brunei?
The country first introduced Sharia law in 2014 despite widespread condemnation, giving it a dual legal system with both Sharia and Common Law. The sultan had said then that the new penal code would come into full force over several years.
The first phase, which covered crimes punishable by prison sentences and fines, was implemented in 2014. Brunei had then delayed introducing the final two phases, which cover crimes punishable by amputation and stoning.
But on Saturday, the government released a statement on its website saying the Sharia penal code would be fully implemented on Wednesday.
In the days since, there has been international outrage and calls for the country to reverse course.
"These abusive provisions received widespread condemnation when plans were first discussed five years ago," said Rachel Chhoa-Howard, a Brunei researcher at Amnesty International.
"Brunei's penal code is a deeply flawed piece of legislation containing a range of provisions that violate human rights."
The United Nations echoed the statement, calling the legislation "cruel, inhuman and degrading", saying it marked a "serious setback" for human rights protection.
Why is this being implemented now?
There are several theories, but Matthew Woolfe, founder of human rights group The Brunei Project, said it could be linked to Brunei's weakening economy.
"One theory is that it is a way for the government to strengthen its hold on power in the face of a declining economy that could potentially lead to some unrest in future," Mr Woolfe told the BBC.
"Connected to this is [Brunei's] interest in attracting more investment from the Muslim world, along with more Islamic tourists… this could be seen as one way of appealing to this market."
Mr Woolfe also added that the government might have hoped to get away with the latest roll-out without anyone realising.
"I think that the government did want to ensure that the international uproar that followed implementation of the first phase in 2014 had well and truly died down before further [implementation], in the hope it would just quietly [do so] without anyone realising," he said.
"It wasn't until increasing international attention that it finally came out and confirmed [this]."
The penal code changes were posted on the attorney general's website in December but only came to public attention in late March. There was no public announcement.
How are people in Brunei reacting?
One 40-year-old gay Bruneian currently seeking asylum in Canada, said the impact of the new penal code was already being felt in Brunei.
The ex-government employee, who left Brunei last year after being charged with sedition for a Facebook post that was critical of the government, said people were "afraid".
"The gay community in Brunei has never been open but when Grindr (a gay dating app) came that helped people meet in secret. But now, what I've heard is that hardly anyone is using Grindr anymore," Shahiran S Shahrani Md told the BBC.
"They're afraid that they might talk to a police officer pretending to be gay. It hasn't happened yet but because of the new laws, people are afraid," he said.
Another male Bruneian, who is not gay but has renounced Islam, said he felt "fearful and numb" in the face of the laws being implemented.
"We ordinary citizens are powerless to stop Sharia law from being implemented," said the 23-year-old who did not want to be identified.
"Under Sharia, I would face the death penalty for apostasy."
One gay man was hopeful that the laws may not actually be enforced widely.
"Honestly, I'm not too scared as the government here often bluffs with the harsh punishments. But it can and will still happen even with it being rare."
Source: BBC News, Yvette Tan, April 3, 2019
On day anti-gay law comes to Brunei, Sultan promises 'sweet' experiences
Sultan of Brunei claims a ‘safe and harmonious’ welcome to visitors on the day the country introduced stoning to death for gay people and adulterers
The Sultan of Brunei has marked the day in which his country introduces strict Sharia laws by claiming the ‘friendly’ country offers ‘sweet’ experiences.
The Muslim-majority kingdom of Brunei has faced widespread condemnation since Gay Star News broke the news last week that it was quietly rushing to implement the Sharia Penal Code. This includes stoning to death for those found guilty of sodomy. Lesbians face 100 whip lashes or ten years in jail.
The sharia laws will implemented today also include death for adulterers and amputation for those found guilty of theft. Those found guilty of abortion also face flogging
‘Brunei … always devotes its worship to Allah’
The Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, 72, is the world’s longest serving leader. He has presided over the small kingdom, on the island of Borneo, for the past 51 years.
Today, to mark an Islamic festival, the Sultan gave a televised speech from a convention center near the capital Bandar Seri Begawan. Although not specifically mentioning the new penal codes, he said: ‘I want to see Islamic teachings in this country grow stronger.
‘I would like to emphasize that the country of Brunei is a … country that always devotes its worship to Allah.’
He went on to say say Brunei is a ‘fair and happy’ place.
‘Anyone who comes to visit this country will have a sweet experience, and enjoy the safe and harmonious environment.’
‘People are afraid’
Gay people from Brunei do not share his opinion.
One gay man, Shahiran S Shahrani Md, currently seeking asylum in Canada, told the BBC: ‘The gay community in Brunei has never been open but when Grindr came that helped people meet in secret. But now, what I’ve heard is that hardly anyone is using Grindr anymore.
‘They’re afraid that they might talk to a police officer pretending to be gay. It hasn’t happened yet but because of the new laws, people are afraid.’
‘Absurd propaganda’
Brunei’s new penal code has been condemned internationally.
‘Brunei’s new penal code is barbaric to the core, imposing archaic punishments for acts that shouldn’t even be crimes,’ said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch.
‘Sultan Hassanal should immediately suspend amputations, stoning, and all other rights-abusing provisions and punishments.’
Responding to today’s speech from the Sultan, Robertson added: ‘The Sultan is either in total la-la land or pushing out self-serving propaganda to hide that the legal wrecking crew has been through. Either way the result is the same. LGBT people in Brunei have been marked for death and he’s the dictator who issued the order.
‘The Sultan and his senior government officials must be made into international pariahs for passing this law that will condemn people to death for who they dare to love.’
Human rights activist Peter Tatchell also dismissed the Sultan’s speech.
‘The Sultan’s claim that visitors to Brunei can enjoy a safe, harmonious environment is absurd propaganda. His introduction of harsh Sharia law will put LGBT people at risk of execution by stoning. There is nothing safe or harmonious about that.’
‘Inhuman punishments’
Michelle Bachelet, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, implored the Sultan not to implement the new penal code. She said the ‘draconian’ changes, ‘would enshrine in legislation cruel and inhuman punishments that seriously breach international human rights law.’
Celebrities including George Clooney and Elton John have called for boycotts of luxury hotels owned by the Sultan of Brunei. A protest will take place this Saturday outside the Dorchester in London – one of the Sultan’s most famous hotels.
Royal Brunei Airlines
Yesterday, the Victorian Gay & Lesbian Rights Lobby in Australia called upon its government to revoke Royal Brunei Airlines’ right to land in Australia. The Australian department of foreign affairs has issued a warning to travellers about the new penal code. However, local LGBTI advocates say a warning does not go far enough.
‘The penal code applies to all those who board a Brunei registered aircraft even when in Australia,’ says the group.
‘(It) will allow for inhumane and cruel punishments for queer people, such as death by stoning for consensual acts between same-sex adults.’
Australia’s foreign office has yet to respond to the lobby group’s request.
Source: Gay Star News, David Hudson, April 3, 2019
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"One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed,
but by the punishments that the good have inflicted." -- Oscar Wilde
but by the punishments that the good have inflicted." -- Oscar Wilde