On Sunday, Brunei’s Sultan, Hassanal Bolkiah, extended a moratorium on the death penalty to include its new Islamic laws
Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah attends an event in Bandar Seri Begawan. Picture: STRINGER / AFP
Seeking to temper a backlash led by celebrities such as actor George Clooney and singer Elton John, Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah on Sunday extended a moratorium on the death penalty to include its new Islamic laws. Brunei, a former British protectorate of about 400,000 nestled between two Malaysian states on Borneo island, was the first country in east Asia to adopt the criminal component of sharia at a national level in 2014.
Some crimes already command the death penalty in Brunei, including premeditated murder and drug trafficking, but no executions have been carried out since 1957. "Progressive and human rights based interpretations and practices of Syariah must be promoted across all levels in Brunei." Condemnation and pressure from both the European Parliament and the US Congress played a big role, Woolfe added.
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