Brunei Defends New Laws Which Punish Gay Sex With Death

24 April 2019, 10:31 | Updated: 24 April 2019, 10:49

The new laws sparked protests across the globe.
The new laws sparked protests across the globe. Picture: PA

Brunei has written to the European Parliament to defend laws which will mean the death penalty as punishment for gay sex.

In a message to European politicians the Southeast Asian kingdom called for "tolerance and respect" of its sovereignty and values.

"The criminalisation of adultery and sodomy is to safeguard the sanctity of family lineage and marriage of individual Muslims, particularly women," it said.

The letter to MEPs said: “The penal sentences of hadd – stoning to death and amputation – imposed for offences of theft, robbery, adultery and sodomy have extremely high evidentiary threshold, requiring no less than two or four men of high moral standing and piety as witnesses, to the exclusion of every form of circumstantial evidence.”

The European Parliament has called on the EU to consider asset freezes, visa bans and the blacklisting of nine hotels owned by Brunei Investment Agency.

Homosexuality was already illegal in Brunei and punishable by up to 10 years in prison but caused international condemnation earlier this month when it brought in new sharia laws.

The new laws mean the death penalty will be imposed for 'blasphemy' or 'heresy against Islam'.

Those caught engaging in lesbian sex will be punished by forty lashes, while thieves will have their right hand chopped off. Repeat offenders will then lose a foot.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Roy Barclay (left), 56, had denied the murder of 57-year-old Anita Rose

'Dangerous' man living off grid to avoid prison found guilty of 'viciously' killing grandmother while on dog walk

The woman was hit on Avenue Charles-de-Gaulle, in Beaune, France

British woman, 35, is run down and killed in front of her husband while out jogging in France

Russia hit Ukraine with over 700 drones overnight. Picture: Alamy

Russia launches largest drone attack on Ukraine since start of full-scale invasion

Erin Patterson was found guilty of triple murder after serving a deadly beef wellington laced with toxic mushroom

'You've poisoned them all': Moment doctor realised 'heinous' mushroom murderer Erin Patterson was guilty of poisonings

A scene from 12 Angry Men, the classic legal drama - where a jury decides to acquit a defendant after a long discussion

How could trials work without juries?

X

Resident doctors announce five days of strike action amid ongoing dispute over pay

Axel Rudakubana

Father of girl injured in Southport attack says she was stabbed by ‘coward’

Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner on the grid before the F1 Grand Prix of Great Britain on July 06

Christian Horner sacked by Red Bull as Formula One team principal - a year after texting scandal

Exclusive
Lord Glasman speaks to LBC's Nick Ferrari

'They urinated on their voters': Lord Glasman slams Tories as 'irrelevant' as he says it's now Labour vs Reform

Getting an ADHD diagnosis can take years for children - but for adults it can be even harder

Do I need to get an ADHD diagnosis?

x

'Digsy's Dinner': ASDA celebrates 'Oasis mania' Manchester gigs by serving Liam Gallagher Lasagna

Writer Raynor Winn during the CineMerit Award for Gillian Anderson and the premiere of the movie "The Salt Path" during the 2025 Munich Film Festival

Salt Path author 'risking legal action' as publisher issues statement over claims story was 'based on lies'

LBC can reveal councils in England are forking out millions of pounds storing the belongings of families stuck in temporary accommodation.

Housing crisis forcing councils to spend millions on storage for those in temporary accommodation

The man has been named by his family as Sean O'Meara.

Plumber, 36, with ‘chainsaw and gas mask’ shot by police who ‘feared gun or bomb’ is named by family

Exclusive
UK is now Russia’s main target, with British criminals acting as Putin's foot soldiers, ex-spy warns

UK is now Russia’s main target, with British criminals acting as Putin's foot soldiers, ex-spy warns

Builder, 35, revealed as trespasser sucked into jet engine at Milan airport

Builder, 35, revealed as trespasser sucked into jet engine at Milan airport