Brunei is set to introduce Sharia legal system on Wednesday, which prescribes death by stoning for adultery and same sex marriages, despite criticism from politicians, celebrities and other human rights groups.
The laws, which also include amputation of hands for thieves, will make Brunei the first country in Southeast Asia to have a sharia penal code at the national level. The tropical Borneo Island is ruled by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, one of the world wealthiest men and the second longest reigning monarch.
The decision to push ahead with the punishments has generated reactions around the world, with the United Nations labelling them “cruel and inhumane” and celebrities, led by actor George Clooney and pop star Elton John, calling for Brunei-owned hotels to be boycotted. But the sultan shows no sign of backing down.
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