World / Asia Brunei to impose death by stoning for adultery and gay sex Rights groups react in horror to Islamic nation's hardline move BL PREMIUM

Kuala Lumpur— Adultery and gay sex in Brunei will be subject to death by stoning from next week, authorities say, under a strict Sharia law that has been on hold for four years amid heavy criticism. Rights groups reacted in horror on Wednesday to the latest hardline move from the resource-rich nation on Borneo, which practises a stricter brand of Islam than its neighbours Malaysia and Indonesia. The tiny sultanate will implement the harsh new penal code — which also prescribes amputation of a hand and foot for theft —next Wednesday. Homosexuality is already illegal in Brunei, but it will now become a capital offence. The law only applies to Muslims. The new penalty for theft is amputation of the right hand for a first offence, and the left foot for a second offence. Amnesty International on Wednesday urged Brunei to “immediately halt” implementing the new penalties. “To legalise such cruel and inhuman penalties is appalling of itself,” Brunei researcher Rachel Chhoa-Howard said. “So...