FORMER EAST END resident Emily Thornberry – now better known as Labour’s Shadow Foreign Secretary – has called for action to be taken against Brunei, a tiny nation on the Island of Borneo.
Brunei was a British protectorate before gaining independence in 1984. It has become a very wealthy nation, thanks to exploiting its reserves of gas and petroleum, and around two third of the population are Muslims. It is a monarchy, with a legal system based on UK law – but which is being replaced, in stages, by elements of Sharia law.
Same sex relationships and sexual activity has long been illegal in Brunei, punishable by up to ten years in prison. However, the latest stage of the implementation of Sharia law has changed the punishment to being stoned to death – which has met international condemnation.
There have been protests, led by LGBTQ+ activists, across the world, with many celebrities – such as Ellen De Generes; actors George Clooney and Jamie Lee Curtis, Elton John and Bill Jean King – speaking out. Transport for London has taken down a paid advertisement for Brunei tourism.
Brunei businesses and interests across the globe have been boycotted. One target has been the Royal Brunei Airlines. STA travel, which used to handle bookings for the airline, has now cut its ties with the airline and various businesses and governments in Australia have cut ties with the airline too.
In the UK, the Dorchester hotel, owned by the Sultan, has been a target – with veteran gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell leading a noisy protest at the hotel. Tatchell pointed out that western governments were (correctly) quick to condemn ISIS for stoning people to death and should now condemn Brunei with similar vigour. He also called on the British royal family to break their close ties with the Brunei royals. Several key events which used to be run at the Dorchester have been called off.
Universities which have awarded the Sultan of Brunei an honorary degree, such as Aberdeen and Kings College London – are said to be considering withdrawing them in protest. Oxford initially withstood the pressure to withdraw the degree it had awarded, but later agreed to consider the move.
Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has taken time out from worrying about Brexit to announce the UK’s “deep opposition” to Brunei’s new law. Labour’s Shadow Foreign Secretary has called on the UK Government go further and take steps to remove Brunei from the Commonwealth – but Hunt has refused, saying this would not be the right way to change Brunei’s mind.
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