Brunei’s new law will enforce capital punishment on LGBT

On March 27, Brunei announced the death penalty for the LGBT community. Starting from April 3, Bruneians who are caught as an LGBT will be stoned to death by law. Consequently, Brunei became the first country in Asia to implement capital punishment for being a part of the LGBT community.

 

Previously, Brunei’s law on the same offence punishes the offender with a 10-year imprisonment. With the new amendment, Brunei took a turn to implement the traditional Islamic death sentence.

 

Back in 2014, Brunei was the first East Asian country to introduce Islamic punishments for out-of-wedlock pregnancies and for people who skipped Friday prayers. At the same time, they’ve implemented extreme punishments for theft and robbery by severing limbs and flogging (whipping or caning).

 

On social media, netizens were upset with the capital punishment, spawning numerous criticisms on the act along with the Sultan of Brunei.

Malaysia, Malaysia Indicator, Brunei, LGBT, death penalty, capital punishment, Syariah law

Nevertheless, the new law also attracted a huge crowd of supporters. Some netizens actually respect the decision and hope for the same law to be implemented in their own countries.

Malaysia, Malaysia Indicator, Brunei, LGBT, death penalty, capital punishment, Syariah law

Undoubtedly, multiple human rights groups have urged Brunei to abandon the law. Many saw it as a violation of human rights that would bring the country closer to conservative Arab states.

 

Is capital punishment on LGBT community too excessive? Or is it the right move for Brunei, as an Islamic country, to follow the Syariah law?