Strict new laws come into force in Brunei that makes gay sex punishable by death

Gay sex is now punishable by death in Brunei after the introduction of strict New Islamic criminal laws.

The penalties were provided for under new sections of Brunei’s Shariah Penal Code, which was introduced by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah in 2014 to bolster the influence of Islam in the oil-rich monarchy of around 430,000 people – two-thirds of whom are Muslim.

Even before 2014, homosexuality was already punishable in Brunei by a jail term of up to 10 years.

The first stage of the Shariah Penal Code included fines or jail for offences such as pregnancy out of wedlock or failing to pray on Fridays.

But under the new laws – which apply to children and foreigners, even if they are not Muslim – those found guilty of gay sex could be stoned to death or whipped.

Adulterers also risk death by stoning, while thieves face amputation of a right hand on their first offence and a left foot on their second.

A 23-year-old member of the LGBTQ community who wanted to be identified only as Kun, said of the new laws: “Living in Brunei, we already knew that our sexual identity is taboo and should not be expressed.

We already felt belittled before the law came to place. Now with it, we feel even smaller and the ones who could potentially oppress us have more opportunity to harass us to say and do what they want.”

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The new laws triggered a wave of condemnation from the international community.

On Tuesday, the United States joined the United Kingdom, Germany and France in urging Brunei to halt its plans.

Michelle Bachelet, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, urged Brunei’s government to “stop the entry into force of this Draconian new penal code”.

Phil Robertson, the deputy Asia director for Human Rights Watch, called on the sultan to “immediately suspend amputations, stoning, and all other rights-abusing provisions and punishments”.

Rachel Chhoa-Howard, Brunei researcher at Amnesty International, decried the “vicious” laws and asked the international community to condemn them.

There has been no vocal opposition to the new penalties in Brunei, where the sultan rules as head of state with full executive authority.

Hassanal, who has reigned since 1967, has previously said the Penal Code should be regarded as a form of “special guidance” from God and would be “part of the great history” of Brunei.