Brunei

Thank you for bringing this to our attention. I hadn’t heard this.

Everyone, our Government, the UN, and other organisations must make representation to the Government of Brunei. And yes, the threat of suspending their membership to the Commonwealth should be made part of that representation.

Barbaric

I am deeply against The Sultan of Brunei’s decision to implement full Sharia Law.

Not sure what expelling him
from the Commonwealth would achieve as I believe there are upwards of 30(34) Commonwealth Countries were Homosexuality is illegal, which seems to be the part of his adaptation of Sharia Law which has grabbed the headlines.

A first time thief will have his predominant hand severed nd second time offenders will have a foot severed!!

Whilst I think this to my mind is totally barbaric, I also am not entirely comfortable with “meddling” in other countries “business”.

Yes its a difficult one Grannygravy I agree that to implement such a law is barbaric, I'm not sure what the answer is.

Uproar because homosexuals will be stoned , no mention of stoning women who have an abortion, sex before marriage, adultery.

Anniebach I totally agree, the implementation of this law covers more than has been posted and I should have included the stoning of women.

I understand there is a call to boycott his hotels but I can't see that making him change his mind. His wealth is so vast that he probably wouldn't even notice. I think the only result of that would be people who work in those hotels may lose their jobs.

Someone has suggested that as he is getting older he is hoping to ensure his place in heaven by suddenly becoming super religious.

I don't think there is any chance of his changing his mind no matter what the international community say or do - we can only hope that whoever takes over from him will be more enlightened.

How other countries deal with punishment is nothing to do with us and we shouldn't interfere. Other countries don't interfere with our justice system so leave well alone.

Who are we to meddle with other countries laws. It's only if they should try to impose them on the UK it would be a problem.

Dreadful! I've signed the petition on Change.Org. in this respect. Stoning any human being, for whatever reason, is hideously barbaric and completely unacceptable.

It may be another country but it is part of the Commonwealth.

As a member of The Commonwealth Brunei is subject to the Commonwealth Rule of Law which, amongst other things, protects its citizens' human rights.

The only way to change this decision is for the Grand Mufti's telling him this is not what the faith intend and for those of the same faith to express their horror...but would they?

I don't know if I agree with the "what other countries impose on their citizens is nothing to do with us" I think the international community should try everything, and bring us much pressure to bear on any government who endorses such punitive measures, to get them to revoke such a decision.

Perhaps Piers Morgan has the answer?
www.pinknews.co.uk/2019/04/04/piers-morgan-brunei-hotels-gay/

As we are still (apparently) responsible for defence there, giving training and exchanges, perhaps we should stop doing this and let them manage for themselves.
thediplomat.com/2018/09/military-drills-put-uk-brunei-defense-ties-in-the-spotlight/

America still has the death penalty

America is not part of the Commonwealth though; we may not agree but it is not subject to the Commonweakth Rule of Law.

TerriBull is right. Stoning people is simply unacceptable - whatever the reason.
As this is a commonwealth country we should have some influence at the very least.

Lots of uproar over stoning women.

Apparently the Social Media accounts of the Sultan's hotels have been deactivated because of the abuse staff members are being sent.

Strange how these Commonwealth countries only become Commonwealth countries when something like this happens ?

Of the 53 commonwealth countries there are thousands living in the most appalling conditions in countries surrounding Africa and Sri Lanka yet here we have a story which, as an act against their religion, is creating a frenzy among those who think it's their right to oppose punishment.

No person of any religion has a right to impose their personal views onto others as being right or wrong and if a certain religion requires a certain form of punishment then so be it. It's not up to anyone else to interfere with those laws.

It's like me writing to the Sultan of Brunei telling him that someone I know has been wrongly incarcerated for over 33 years in a British jail, please do something about our unfair justice system.

The fact that Brunei is a member of the Comminwealth is very germane to this discussion imo. The Commonwealth website talks about shared values including democracy and human rights. South Africa had eventually to withdraw from the Commonwealth because of its apartheid regime. Personally I think it’s wrong that other Commonwealth countries have laws against homosexuality. All these countries benefit from membership and we should ensure that basic human rights apply - but then look at NI - we allow them to ignore certain human rights. Apparently w.e have troops in Brunei and the Defence Secretary is seeking assurances from the Sultan that this law will not apply to any British soldiers stationed there.

I don’t think it’s ‘interfering’ to protest against regimes and laws in other countries. Interfering is what the USA is very good at when they fund and support coups in other countries to get rid of regimes they don’t approve of eg Chile

What exactly are you trying to say EV? That we should accept this and not protest?

Really?