Brunei has introduced laws that make gay sex punishable by stoning to death.
The south-east Asian kingdom scheduled the offence to be introduced today leading to much shock and fear among the nation’s small LGBT community.
The new laws also include the punishment of death by stoning for adultery and the amputation of hands and feet for theft.
Ruled by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, the small nation had already made homosexuality punishable by 10 years imprisonment, but these new strict teachings have incited feat into the Brunei public and elsewhere.
“I want to see Islamic teachings in this country grow stronger,” said the sultan during a press conference as reported by AFP.
“Anyone who comes to visit this country will have a sweet experience, and enjoy the safe and harmonious environment.”
Tomorrow, the country of #Brunei will start stoning gay people to death. We need to do something now. Please boycott these hotels owned by the Sultan of Brunei. Raise your voices now. Spread the word. Rise up. pic.twitter.com/24KJsemPGH
— Ellen DeGeneres (@EllenDeGeneres) April 2, 2019
The law will make sex between men punishable by stoning to death, while sex between women will incur a maximum punishment of 40 strokes of the cane or a 10-year jail term.
Rape and robbery will also punishable by death.
The new penal code has been globally condemned by LGBT rights groups and world leaders, as well as celebrities, many of whom have urged people to boycott the sultan’s top luxury hotels.
These include LA’s Hotel Bel-Air, London’s 45 Park Lane and The Dorchester, and Ascot’s Coworth Park.
The 72-year-old is one of the world’s wealthiest men. He announced the plans for his new code in 2013.
