The Sultan of Brunei has announced the first phase of enforcement of strict Sharia law in the nation.
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, an absolute dictator in the nation, said that he had no choice under Islam to put the Sharia law into effect.
The first phase of the implementation will include fines and jail terms for offenses such as missing Friday prayers or an out-of-wedlock pregnancy. The second phase will include the severing of limbs if convicted of robbery or theft, and stoning to death for adultery.
The Sultan has called Islam a “firewall” against globalization.
The move is causing unrest and dissent in the country. The new law will also allow the government to give jail terms or sentences of flogging to anyone who challenges the leader or makes any comment the government feels is disparaging toward the Sultan.
Critics worldwide say the move is a move to brutality.
“It’s a huge step back for human rights in Brunei and totally out of step with the 21st century,” Phil Robertson of Human Rights Watch told The Guardian.
The sultanate of Brunei has announced that a new code of laws based on a strict interpretation of Sharia Law will go into effect in six months.
The law allegedly will only be enforced on Muslims.
Brunei already had stricter Islamic laws than many surrounding nations including the banning of alcohol. The new law will allow death by stoning to anyone convicted of adultery and the severing of limbs for theft.
Punishments for consuming alcohol could include public flogging. Ironically, abortion is not considered murder than would only be punished by flogging.
Brunei’s Islamic laws had been limited mostly to family courts as the criminal code has been similar to the country’s days as a British protectorate. The sultan pledged to give judges discretion in sentencing of convicts.
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