The sultan said in a speech that new laws imposing harsh punishment for gay sex and adultery would be covered by an existing moratorium on the death penalty.
By Shibani Mahtani Shibani Mahtani Reporter covering Southeast Asia Email Bio Follow May 6 at 6:24 AM HONG KONG — The sultan of Brunei said his country would not impose the death penalty, appearing to back away from harsh punishments including death by stoning for gay sex and adultery under strict new laws that took effect last month.
“I am aware that there are all sorts of questions and misconceptions on the implementation” of the laws, the sultan, Hassanal Bolkiah, said. “For that, we have given clarification. We are conscious of the fact that these misconceptions may cause apprehension.” Western governments had been quietly lobbying Brunei to refrain from implementing the laws, which they said would complicate trade deals with the oil-rich sultanate, and they have urged Brunei to uphold international human rights standards. A State Department spokesman, speaking soon after the laws went into effect, said the United States “regularly communicate[s] with the government of Brunei regarding human rights and encourage[s] it to uphold its international commitments on human rights.
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