Secretary-General of the Commonwealth urges Brunei to revoke homophobic law
Brunei became the 49th member of the Commonwealth immediately on the day of its independence on 1 January 1984
By Steve Brown
The Secretary-General of the Commonwealth has urged the Brunei government to revoke the capital punishment for gay sex and adultery.
This week, the Sultan of Brunei – the tiny south Asian kingdom which follows the Sharia law – invoked a law meaning gay Muslim men and adulterers could face stoning and whipping to death as well as amputation.
The new inhumane move has been widely criticised by celebrities and the LGBTQ+ community and now Baroness Patricia Scotland has condemned Brunei and called for the law to be revoked.
In a statement to i, the former attorney general said: “I have communicated my concern to the Government of Brunei, strongly urging it to reconsider the introduction of the punishments proposed under the new Penal Code which, if implemented in its current form, will potentially bring into effect cruel and inhuman punishments which contravene international human rights law and standards.
“The Commonwealth Secretariat is ready and willing to provide Brunei Darussalam with technical assistance and to advise on the formulation of a revised Penal Code in accordance with the values and principles of the Commonwealth Charter and in compliance with international human rights law and obligations including on the issue of harmonisation.”
Brunei became the 49th member of the Commonwealth immediately on the day of its independence on 1 January 1984.