On Saturday, I covered Bill Maher’s calling out of George Clooney for “chickensh** tokenism” over anti-gay legislation in Brunei (here). The country’s prime minister owns multiple Los Angeles hotels, and some celebrities have endorsed a boycott.

As I indicated in that article, in Brunei — a country whose official religion is Islam — homosexuality is punishable by death. More accurately, it will be: The country’s sex laws will change in stunning ways on April 3rd.

Here’s a lot more information, along with worldwide reactions to the impending nod to ancient totalitarianism.

In 2014, 72-year-old Sultan and Prime Minister Hassanal Bolkiah began an implementation of Women’s March leader Linda Sarsour’s favored Sharia law (here).

Here’s Brunei’s Syariah Penal Code as it relates to theft:

Any person who commits sariqah [surreptitious theft] where the value of the property amounts to or exceeds nisab [a certain value threshold] and the sariqah is proved either by ikrar [pledge] of the accused or by syahadah [true testimony] of at least two syahid [one who provides evidence via testimony] in accordance with Hukum Syara’ [Islamic law] other than the victim’s evidence, after the Court is satisfied having regard to the requirements of tazkiyah al syuhud [questioning of the witnesses by the court] is guilty of an offense and shall be liable on conviction to hadd punishment as follows.

Are you ready for the punishments?

Buckle up:

(a) for a first offense, amputation of his right hand from the joint of the wrist;

(b) for a second offense, amputation of his left foot up to the ankle; and

(c) for a third or subsequent offense, imprisonment for a term not exceeding 15 years.

How’s Hassanal feel about sodomy? Feel free to read that again.

He’s not for it:

Any person who commits liwat is guilty of an offense and shall be liable on conviction to the same punishment as provided for the offense of zina [sex outside of marriage].

(2) For the purposes of this Order, “liwat” means sexual intercourse between a man and another man or between a man and a woman other than his wife, done against the order of nature that is through the anus.

So what’s the consequence of zina? Delve with me:

Any Muslim who commits zina and it is proved either by ikrar of the accused, or by syahadah of at least four syahid according to Hukum Syara’ after the Court is satisfied having regard to the requirements of tazkiyah al syuhud, is guilty of an offense and shall be liable on conviction to hadd punishment as follows –

(a) if he is muhshan [a married Muslim man or woman], stoning to death witnessed by a group of Muslims; or

(b) if he is ghairu muhshan, whipping with 100 strokes witnessed by a group of Muslims and imprisonment for a term of one year.

Quite the strict code. I wonder what they do to television actors faking chemical attacks, hate crime beatings, and terroristic mailings (here and here). Drop all charges?

In reaction to Brunei’s announcement, the State Department released the following:

The United States is concerned with Brunei’s decision to implement Phases Two and Three of the Sharia Penal Code. Some of the punishments in the law appear inconsistent with international human rights obligations, including with respect to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. We have encouraged Brunei to ratify and implement the United Nations Convention Against Torture, which it signed in 2015, and to sign, ratify, and implement the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Makes sense.

Government officials in Austria, Australia, and New Zealand have also condemned the laws.

Amnesty International joined in:

Pending provisions in Brunei’s Penal Code would allow stoning and amputation as punishments – including for children, to name only their most heinous aspects. …Brunei must immediately halt its plans to implement these vicious punishments, and revise its Penal Code in compliance with its human rights obligations. The international community must urgently condemn Brunei’s move to put these cruel penalties into practice.

Amid the reaction, something amazing happened; nothing like a common enemy to bring people together.

Ladies and gentleman, Ted Cruz:

“Here are words I’ve never said before: I agree with George Clooney. Brunei’s laws criminalizing homosexuality — and imposing capital punishment — are immoral, barbaric & inhumane. We should stand united in condemning them & not give our $$ to those who perpetuate oppression.”

Here are words I’ve never said before: I agree with George Clooney. Brunei’s laws criminalizing homosexuality — and imposing capital punishment — are immoral, barbaric & inhumane. We should stand united in condemning them & not give our $$ to those who perpetuate oppression. https://t.co/eipC9MiQOk

— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) March 29, 2019

What does Brunei have to say for itself? As per a March 30th press release, it’s “None of your business”:

Brunei Darussalam is a sovereign Islamic and fully independent country and, like all other independent countries, enforces its own rule of laws. Brunei Darussalam has always been practising a dual legal system, one that is based on the Syariah Law and the other on Common Law.

In fully implementing the Syariah Penal Code Order (SPCO) 2013 from 3rd April 2019, both systems will continue to run in parallel to maintain peace and order and preserve religion, life, family and individuals regardless of gender, nationality, race and faith.

The Syariah Law, apart from criminalizing and deterring acts that are against the teachings of Islam, it also aims to educate, respect and protect the legitimate rights of all individuals, society or nationality of any faiths and race.

That’s nice of ’em — to educate and all.

According to the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association, Brunei is set to become the 9th country in the world to punish homosexuality with death.

The other 8:

Iran
Sudan
Saudi Arabia
Yemen
Parts of Somalia
Parts of northern Nigeria
Syria
Iraq

Learn about the Sultan of Brunei — and more — in the videos below (WARNING: The Vice clip depicts caining).

-Alex

Relevant RedState links in this article: here and here.

See 3 more pieces from me: Monica on Mueller, an emotional reunion between father and son, and an incredible instance of elder abuse.

Find all my RedState work here.

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