Showing posts with label Sultan Hassal Bolkiah. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sultan Hassal Bolkiah. Show all posts

Friday, February 28, 2014

Brunei Sultan Hits Back at Rare Criticism over Sharia

Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah
YAHOO! NEWS SINGAPORE: Brunei's all-powerful sultan, stung by rare criticism, has ordered social media users to stop attacking his plans to introduce harsh Islamic criminal punishments in the placid oil-rich kingdom.

Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah -- one of the world's wealthiest men -- announced last October that Brunei would phase in sharia law punishments such as flogging, severing limbs and death by stoning beginning April 1.

The move has sparked a growing outcry on social media, the only outlet for public criticism of authorities in the Muslim country where questioning the 67-year-old sultan is taboo.

In a weekend speech, the sultan issued a clear threat to the critics.

"They cannot be allowed to continue committing these insults, but if there are elements which allow them to be brought to court, then the first phase of implementing the Syariah Penal Code Order in April will be very relevant to them," he said, according to a copy of his speech published by state media. » | AFP | Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Monday, October 28, 2013

Brunei to Bring in Tough New Sharia Law

Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah
THE GUARDIAN: Oil-rich sultanate plans a new Islamic criminal code with punishments including stoning, flogging and amputation

Brunei plans to implement a tough new sharia criminal code next year that could see citizens stoned for adultery or having a limb amputated for theft.

Those convicted of drinking alcohol or committing other violations – such as abortion – could be flogged.

Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah – who is thought to be worth about $20bn (£12.3bn) and exercises tight control over the Muslim-majority country – described the legislation as "part of the great history of our nation" and a form of "special guidance" from God.

"It is because of our need that Allah the Almighty, in all his generosity, has created laws for us, so that we can utilise them to obtain justice," the 67-year-old was quoted as saying in local media.

The oil-rich sultanate already forbids the sale of alcohol and bans the evangelism of religions other than Islam. It is known for practising a more conservative form of Islam than its majority-Muslim neighbour Malaysia.

While sharia law already exists within the small south-east Asian nation – which is home to roughly 406,000 people, two-thirds of whom are Muslim – the Islamic court has, to date, primarily handled family-related affairs like marriage and inheritance.

The new penal code will be enforced in phases, local media reported, and will apply only to Muslims.

However, visitors to the Brunei could be flogged under existing secular laws for crimes including immigration offences. Caning is also used as punishment in Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore. » | Kate Hodal | Tuesday, October 22, 2013

THE BRUNEI TIMES: Brunei to enforce Syariah law next year » | Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Related »