TURNING BACK THE CLOCK  ON PUNISHMENT: HOW BRUNEI IS RE-ENFORCING STONING AGAINST HOMOSEXUAL INDIVIDUALS

By Davida M. Hawkes

The Nation of Brunei has a long history of discrimination against Homosexuals. Since it was under British Colonial rule in 1984, the Nation of Brunei has enacted laws and regulations against members of the LGBTQ community. The Nation continues to regulate intimate private activities of its own members through prescribing punishment for extramarital sex, and abortion. At issue recently, is Brunei’s implementation of  imposing death by stoning as a punishment for homosexuality and adultery. The implementation of this new, yet medieval like punishment has been classified as a “great achievement” by the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkia. This comes shortly after Brunei adopted a more conservative form of Islam by introducing Sharia law, an Islamic legal system that imposes strict corporal punishments. For this action, Brunei has continued to receive global backlash.

The United Nations, LGBTQ activists groups, and foreign governments have all condemned Brunei’s newly founded punishment. Brunei’s call for Stoning as a punishment caused great concern among LGBTQ soldiers in the British army who fear they could be caught up in the cross hairs while being stationed in Brunei for the next year. To which the UK’s international development secretary spoke out stating, “Brunei’s decision is barbaric and the UK stands with the LGBTQ community and those who defend their rights. LGBTQ rights are human rights.” Furthermore, businesses owned by Brunei’s rich leader were boycotted by prominent leaders, celebrities around the world, and hotel lobbies owned by the nation were filled with protestors at the request of Western celebrities such as George Clooney and Ellen DeGeneres.

Although punishing homosexuality is not new in Brunei, the implementation of death by stoning due to homosexuality is an egregious violation of human rights. Stoning in its very nature is meant to be a slow, painful, and deliberate death, and as a result, it is important that nations respond accordingly, through condemning this heinous act of torture to ensure these practices do not spread across Southeast Asia. The United States has taken a strong opposition against this law, stating “The US strongly opposes violence, criminalization and discrimination targeting vulnerable groups.” However, with Indonesia and Malaysia publicly supporting stricter laws regulating LGBTQ relationships, and have been silent in response to Brunei’s stoning laws, a wave of fear has been sent across the LBGTQ populations in both of those countries. With this rise of conservative Islamic laws, and no pushback from neighboring countries, what is to happen to LGBTQ members in this region? How should the United Nations and other leaders around the world respond to the Nation of Brunei?

References

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/brunei-defends-gay-sex-death-penalty-which-focuses-more-on-prevention-than-punishment/

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/mar/28/brunei-brings-in-death-by-stoning-as-punishment-for-gay-sex

http://time.com/5563308/what-its-like-gay-brunei/

https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/08/asia/brunei-indonesia-malaysia-islam-intl/index.html

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/middle-east/companies-boycott-brunei-s-dorchester-hotel-over-gay-sex-law-after-celebrity-outcry-1.3852593