New Penalty for Gay Sex, Adultery: Death by Stoning

Brunei will put sharia law punishments into effect next week
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 28, 2019 8:14 AM CDT
New Penalty for Gay Sex, Adultery: Death by Stoning
A 2011 photo of Brunei's sultan, Hassanal Bolkiah.   (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim, File)

The small kingdom of Brunei is taking its Sharia law to a whole new level next week: Beginning April 3, anyone convicted of having gay sex or cheating on their spouse will be stoned to death, reports the Guardian. The nation in Southeast Asia adopted the strict Islamic code nearly five years ago and has been gradually phasing in new penalties ever since, per CNN. This latest phase, however, is now generating controversy. "The international community must urgently condemn Brunei's move to put these cruel penalties into practice," says Amnesty International.

Brunei is home to about 430,000 people and most are Muslim, but the new punishments will apply to both Muslims and non-Muslims, reports the New York Times. The newspaper notes that Brunei previously backed off implementing such penalties when it ran into a major international backlash, including from investors. But the oil-rich nation, long ruled by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, appears intent on going through with them this time. Alcohol already is illegal, as is homosexuality itself. (More Brunei stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X