Brunei Reverse Death Penalty for Gays

After the global backlash led by celebrities such as George Clooney and Elton John, Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah on Sunday has extended the death penalty to incoming legislation prohibiting gay sex.
The small Southeast Asian country, Brunei had agreed to an interpretation of Islamic laws, or sharia, on April 3, declaring punishment of sodomy, adultery, rape with death by stoning.
Brunei has consistently defended its right to implement the laws, elements of which were first adopted in 2014 and which have been rolled out in phases since then.
However, in a rare response to criticism aimed at the oil-rich state, the sultan said the death penalty would not be imposed in the implementation of the Syariah Penal Code Order (SPCO).


"I am aware that there are many questions and misperceptions with regard to the implementation of the SPCO. However, we believe that once these have been cleared, the merit of the law will be evident," the sultan said in a speech ahead of the start of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.
"As evident for more than two decades, we have practiced a de facto moratorium on the execution of death penalty for cases under the common law. This will also be applied to cases under the SPCO which provides a wider scope for remission."


The sultan's office released an official English translation of his speech, which is not common practice.


"Both the common law and the Syariah law aim to ensure peace and harmony of the country,They are also crucial in protecting the morality and decency of the country as well as the privacy of individuals."


United Nations, celebrities like Ellen DeGeneres, George Clooney and Elton John; and other right groups have expressed their disgust for the law and have requested the immediate boycott of the wealthy Sultan's hotels like  Dorchester in London and the Beverley Hills Hotel in Los Angeles.
Several multinational companies have since put a ban on staff from using any of the Sultan's hotels world wide and have stopped promoting the country as a tourist destination.