If Brunei were a non-profit organization in the United States they’d be prosecuted for LGBTQ hate-crimes. This week the oil-rich sultanate in the South China Sea will be moving forward (or backward, according to western standards) with the second phase of sharia law implementation (the first stage was adopted in 2014) ~ Brunei Imposes Sharia Law: Homosexuals May Be Imprisoned, Tortured, and Executed ~
Brunei’s already strict Islamic criminal code will enter an even tougher new stage next week with the introductions of laws mandating lengthy prison terms, whipping, and even execution for homosexual behavior. Brunei is set to become the first Asian country to punish homosexuality with the death penalty, as several Arab countries do.
The sultanate disregarded five years of criticism from international human rights groups and quietly issued court orders to proceed with Stage Two on April 3. Gays will be whipped, imprisoned for much longer sentences, and could be executed by stoning, although Brunei has recently been lax about actually carrying out death sentences.
Another perennial sharia favorite, cutting of the hands of thieves, is included in the upgraded legal code. According to Amnesty International, many of these harsh penalties with be applicable to children.
“Brunei must immediately halt its plans to implement these vicious punishments and revise its Penal Code in compliance with its human rights obligations. The international community must urgently condemn Brunei’s move to put these cruel penalties into practice,” Amnesty International researcher Rachel Chhoa-Howard said on Wednesday.
(If this is only Stage Two, one wonders what Stage Three might mean.)
Brunei is already a miserable place to live if you’re a Christian (approximately 57,400 out of a population of 434,000). The country is 36th in Open Doors ranking of oppressive nations ~
In Brunei, conversion from Islam is illegal, which results in pressure for Christian converts to return to their former faith. When one family member converts to Christianity, families are forced to split up, making expression of the Christian faith an incredibly difficult decision. All of society is impacted by the continued introduction of Sharia laws—including Christians who are forced to adhere to Islamic customs and rites.
Oddly enough our progressive media types haven’t had much to say about the latest developments. David Wood of Acts17Apologetics wonders whether American proponents of sharia law (such as Linda Sarsour, Illan Omar) will be pleased with Brunei’s move towards Allah’s punishments, or will they finally see a problem with the teachings of Muhammad?
