Brunei will stone you if you have gay sex from next week

Brunei will now stone you if you have gay sex from next week.

The predominantly Muslim nation of south-east Asia has adopted a new penal code calling for death by stoning for several crimes.

This includes homosexuality, adultery, rape, and declaring oneself to be non-Muslim.

Gay sex was originally only punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

The United Nations human rights office has appealed to Brunei to hold off enforcement of the new penal code, scheduled to take effect 22 April.

‘Application of the death penalty for such a broad range of offences contravenes international law,’ said Rupert Colville, spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

‘We urge the Government to delay the entry into force of the revised penal code and to conduct a comprehensive review ensuring its compliance with international human rights standards.’

He added: ‘Under international law, stoning people to death constitutes torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and is thus clearly prohibited.’

The United Nations spokesperson added Brunei had not used the death penalty officially since 1957, and hoped the Government would work to ban it entirely.

The criminalization and application of the death penalty for sex between adults in private violates a whole host of rights, including the rights to privacy, equality before the law, the right to health and freedom from arbitrary arrest and detention.

Colville warned: ‘The provisions of the revised penal code may encourage further violence and discrimination against women and also against people on the basis of sexual orientation.

Source GSN