By Lucy Caulkett-
The new Islamic criminal laws brought into force by the kingdom of Brunei today is so barbaric. It is disgraceful. This law that allows death by stoning or whipping for gay sex is a disgrace to its leader, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah. In 2019, only a very backward country in any part of the world will go so far as stoning or killing individuals for gay sex or adultery in the name of their religion. It puts their country and religion to shame.
Many of us have been appalled by past news where heads of other nations like Kenya jail gay people for practising engaging in sexual relations . Laws that instruct stoning is scarily barbaric. Religious beliefs that forbid gay activity is a private view and belief of those who practise their faith. Forcing those views on others by attacking their life and killing them is so hypocritical that it demands outside intervention and condemnation of the highest level.
The new law in the monarchy of Brunei includes the death penalty for adultery and rape, and amputation for theft. It has caused uproar and disbelief because of its crazy and archaic application. t from criminalising and deterring acts that are against the teachings of Islam”. Brunei has tried to defend the legislation by saying it “also aims to educate, respect and protect the legitimate rights of all individuals, society or nationality of any faiths and race”
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Human rights group Amnesty International has condemned the punishments, which it says would also apply to children, as “vicious”.
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Human Rights Watch said Brunei’s new penal code was “barbaric to the core” and called for the immediate suspension of “amputations, stoning, and all other rights-abusing provisions and punishments”. Brunei’s leader, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah has lost respect and credibility in the eyes of all civil and modern individuals who can see his hypocritical conduct.
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Bolkiah thinks he has the right to authorise stoning to death for adultery and gay sex, but allow a culture that encourages men to bully and domestically assault their women, he is living by double standards. The student union of Oxford University have asked their vice chancellor to revoke an honoury degree awarded to him, but the University has announced it will not be rescinding its honorary degree to the Sultan of Brunei.
Oxford awarded wealthy Hassanal Bolkiah, who has been both head of state and prime minister of Brunei since 1967, an honorary degree of civil law by diploma in 1993. King’s College London and the University of Aberdeen are in the process of reviewing its honorary degrees awarded to the Sultan.
A spokesperson for the University of Aberdeen said: “The University of Aberdeen is inclusive and open to all. In light of this new information this matter will be raised as a matter of urgency with the University’s Honorary Degrees Committee.”
In response, the Vice-President for Welfare and Equal Opportunities at Oxford Student Union, Ellie Macdonald, commented: “All honorary degrees should reflect the ethos of the University. We want to create a safe and inclusive society for all and the people who receive this type of honour should be held to a high standard.”
“If they fail to meet that, as in this case, they should be stripped of their honour.”
The Oxford Student Union will be writing to the Vice Chancellor and Registrar to urge them to revoke the degree “campaigning to ensure that this happens.” The law will only be applied where those guilty of breaking it confess to it or where there are witnesses present to witness the forbidden act. Defenders of this extreme form of Sharia law say it will hardly be implemented because it won’t be likely for people to witness those acts.
It is still possible for people to witness it, or for people to speak freely about their actions. Punishment by death is too much.
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