Germany and France are concerned because the sultanate Brunei wants to tighten its criminal law. They call on the country to uphold human rights. In Berlin, the ambassador of Brunei was to a conference at the Foreign Office. „We have expressed our concern in connection with the introduction of Sharia criminal law,“ said the Federal Government.
The Human Rights Commissioner Bärbel Kofler condemned the planned introduction of the death penalty for same-sex sex „in the strongest terms“. The death penalty and other planned Sharia punishments are a „cruel and degrading kind of punishment,“ said the SPD politician. They are „incompatible with human dignity“ and could not be justified on „religious grounds“.
Kofler called on the government of Brunei not to implement the planned tightening of Sharia criminal law, which has been in force since 2014. Should it nevertheless come into force, the sultanate should „under no circumstances“ carry out the death penalty and other corporal punishment. Berlin sees in the provisions a „clear violation of the human rights obligations of the country“.
Hand off at theft
In Brunei, a new version of the Criminal Code will apply from tomorrow. Among other things, homosexuals should be stoned to death if they are Muslims. This applies to the majority of the inhabitants of the sultanate. Adultery is also to be punished with death. Thieves should be amputated the right hand and in case of recurrence also the left leg.
The French Foreign Ministry said that the new regulations contradict international obligations on human rights. The sultanate should revoke the law and maintain a moratorium on executions since 1957.
Yesterday, UN Human Rights Commissioner Michelle Bachelet called the new Sharia law „cruel and inhuman.“
