Progressive; compassionate; modern; enlightened - everything Brunei is not...
A modern country?
Brunei is returning to the medieval standards of barbarism in its new royally decreed penal code.
Last October, the Sultan of Brunei announced he was introducing a new penal code broadening the reach of Sharia law. Other than a brief mention in a BBC web article it warranted barely a mention in the UK press. Only last week the UN human rights office expressed major concerns over the code which included the death penalty for a number of offences, including blasphemy and insult to the Quran, apostasy, and in particular a return of stoning for rape, adultery, and homosexuality.
As of yesterday, that code is now supposedly in force, although some regional reporting suggests that implementation has been delayed, because the Sultan - a supposedly well-educated, modern man, and one of the worlds last remaining ruling monarchs - is not in the sultanate to make the appropriate official declaration. Narry a peep in the mainstream British press. On the rare occasions he does merit attention it is always in the context of him being one of the wealthiest individuals in the world and usually charming some visiting dignitary or other. For all his wealth and education the man is a barbarian, and a provides perfect example of why absolute power should never rest in the hands of just one person.
