Condemn Persecution of LGBT People in Brunei

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Will Saudi Arabia Go Nuclear? | Al Jazeera English

"If Iran develops a nuclear bomb, we will follow suit." That was the warning from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman last year. Now, the Kingdom is said to be a few months away from completing its first nuclear reactor and some arms-control experts are alarmed.

Photos have been published showing the reactor site in the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology on the outskirts of Riyadh. Construction is apparently nearly done around a vessel intended to contain atomic fuel.

Saudi Arabia is yet to sign up to an international framework aimed at ensuring atomic programmes are not used to build weapons. But what does all this mean for an already tense and volatile region?

Presenter: Hazem Sika | Guests: Ibrahim Fraihat, Associate Professor of Conflict Resolution at the Doha Institute; Seyed Mostafa Khoshcheshm, Professor of Journalism at the Fars Media Faculty under the Applied Sciences University; Mark Fitzpatrick, Director of the Non-Proliferation Program at the International Institute for Strategic Studies

Le sultanat de Brunei se convertit à la charia la plus stricte

LE FIGARO: INFOGRAPHIE - Le petit État pétrolier a provoqué un tollé international en annonçant qu’il punirait l’adultère et l’homosexualité de la peine de mort par lapidation.

L’indignation de pays occidentaux, d’ONG ou de stars comme George Clooney face à des châtiments d’un autre âge n’y aura rien changé. L’État de Brunei a instauré ce mercredi une nouvelle législation d’inspiration islamique qui punit l’adultère et les rapports sexuels entre hommes de la peine de mort par lapidation. Ce petit pays pétrolier, situé sur l’île de Borneo et dirigé d’une main de fer par le sultan Hassanal Bolkiah depuis 1967, est ainsi devenu le premier gouvernement d’Asie du Sud-Est à appliquer au niveau national un Code pénal s’inspirant de la charia la plus stricte, à l’image de l’Arabie saoudite. Le nouveau texte prévoit, en outre, l’amputation d’une main ou d’un pied pour les voleurs. Le viol est aussi passible de la peine capitale, tout comme l’outrage au prophète Mahomet. Et les relations sexuelles entre femmes peuvent entraîner jusqu’à dix ans de prison. Certains articles, comme la lapidation pour homosexualité masculine concernent les musulmans comme les non-musulmans. » | Par Cyrille Pluyette, correspondant du Figaro à Pékin | jeudi 04 avril 2019

Salvini Aims to Forge Far-right Alliance ahead of European Elections

THE GUARDIAN: Italian deputy PM holding gathering of far-right parties in Milan next week as he seeks to create bloc of populist parties

Matteo Salvini, Italy’s deputy prime minister and leader of its far-right League party, will host a gathering of European far-right parties in Milan next week aimed at building an alliance before elections in May.

Salvini is attempting to position himself as the informal leader of Eurosceptic, populist forces in Europe, but it remains unclear whether any kind of formal coalition will work, given policy differences between parties and the tangled web of alliances already at play inside the European parliament.

Europe’s rightwing populists are in power in Italy, Hungary, Austria and Poland and are riding high in several countries including France and the Netherlands, and, according to polls, will make significant advances in May’s elections. However, they are not predicted to form a majority and most analysts believe they will struggle to present a united front. » | Shaun Walker in Budapest, Angela Giuffrida in Rome and Jon Henley in Paris | Thursday, April 4, 2019

Police amass 10,000 Officers in Preparation for No-deal Unrest

THE GUARDIAN: Chiefs warn that inflammatory rhetoric from politicians could worsen Brexit tensions

Police chiefs have voiced fears that inflammatory rhetoric from politicians and activists could fuel Brexit tensions as they revealed they have amassed their biggest ever peacetime reserve of 10,000 officers to deal with potential unrest in the event of no deal.

The chair of the National Police Chiefs Council, Martin Hewitt, warned “prominent individuals” involved in the protracted Brexit debate should avoid inciting anger given the “febrile” and “emotive” atmosphere, amid concerns of violence and disorder.

Hewitt said: “This is highly emotive ... I think there is a responsibility on those individuals that have a platform, and have a voice, to communicate in a way that is temperate and is not in any way going to inflame people’s views or cause any actions out of there.

“I think we are in an incredibly febrile atmosphere. There is a lot of angry talk that you can pick up if you look across social media.” » | Vikram Dodd, Police and crime correspondent | Thursday, April 4, 2019

Backlash as Brunei Introduces Death by Stoning for Homosexual Sex | ITV News

Brunei will roll-out full Sharia law today, where people who have gay sex could be punished with death by stoning. The country's leader, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, has supported the strict Islamic teachings and insisted his nation was a "fair and happy place". "I want to see Islamic teachings in this country grow stronger," Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah said, without mentioning the new laws.

#boycottbrunei : Brunei Sultan Enacts Gay Sex Stoning Law | DW News

Brunei hat einen steinreichen Sultan und führt drakonische Strafen nach Scharia ein – was ist das für ein Land?

NEUE ZÜRCHER ZEITUNG: Brunei ist dank Öl und Gas reich. Davon profitiert der absolutistisch regierende Sultan wie das Volk. Doch der gesellschaftliche Sozialvertrag kommt unter Druck.

Eine Fläche von der Grösse des Kantons Bern und eine Bevölkerung in der Grössenordnung der Stadt Zürich – kein Wunder, steht der Ministaat Brunei kaum je im Zentrum der globalen Aufmerksamkeit. Nicht einmal Wahlen rücken das südostasiatische Land ab und zu ins Rampenlicht. Denn Wahlen gibt es nicht. Brunei ist eine absolutistische Monarchie, seit 51 Jahren regiert Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah mit uneingeschränkter Macht. Formell hält er auch die Portfolios als Ministerpräsident, Verteidigungs- und Aussenminister, und er steht den drei Universitäten des Landes vor. Mit einem geschätzten Vermögen von 20 Milliarden Dollar gehört er zu den reichsten Männern der Welt. » | Patrick Zoll | Mittwoch, 03. April 2019

NEUE ZÜRCHER ZEITUNG: Barbarische Strafen für Ehebruch in Brunei » | Manfred Rist, Singapur | Mittwoch, 03. April 2019

Questioning Brunei's Consulate on Anti-LGBT Sharia Law Death Penalty | Janice Atkinson

Janice Atkinson of TheRebel.media reports: The Nation of Brunei is introducing a new Sharia Law penal code on April 3rd that imposes the death penalty on its Muslim citizens by stoning for rape, adultery, insulting Muhammad and for committing homosexual acts.

Human Rights Watch: LGBT Law Will Turn Brunei into 'Human-rights Pariah'

Brunei on Wednesday introduced harsh new sharia laws, including death by stoning for adultery and gay sex, despite a storm of global criticism from politicians, celebrities and rights groups. Human Rights Watch says the hardline rules will turn the sultanate into a "human-rights pariah."

The Sultan of Brunei’s Frugal Brother! »

Brunei Enacts New Penal Laws amid International Condemnation | #TheCube

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Brunei Introduces Death by Stoning for Gay Sex and Adultery » | Iliana Magra | Wednesday, April 3, 2019

Guaidó Stripped of Immunity by Venezuelan Legislators | Al Jazeera English

Politicians loyal to Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro have stripped opposition leader Juan Guaidó of immunity. It means he could now be prosecuted on accusations of violating the constitution -- after declaring himself interim president. The trial will likely start soon but this pits Maduro's government against the more than 60 countries that have backed Guaidó. Al Jazeera's Lucia Newman reports from Caracas.

President Donald Trump's Day of Strange and Confusing Statements | The Last Word | MSNBC

Lawrence examines what Donald Trump did and said today, and why it raises urgent and important questions about the President of the United States. Psychiatrist Prudence Gourguechon, Ron Klain and Adam Jentleson join Lawrence to discuss.

Steinigung von Schwulen: George Clooney ruft zum Brunei-Boykott auf

Hollywood-Star George Clooney hat wegen der Einführung der Todesstrafe für Homosexuelle in dem südostasiatischen Kleinstaat Brunei zu einem Boykott von Luxushotels im Besitz des herrschenden Sultans Hassan al Bolkiah aufgerufen.

Woman Claims Sultan of Brunei Breaks His Own Strict Law

Author Jillian Lauren claims she witnessed the Sultan of Burnei, "not exactly living on the straight and narrow."

Trump's Silence Is Deafening As Brunei's Brutal Anti-LGBTQ Laws Arrive

ADVOCATE: Today, new laws go into effect that require death by stoning if one is caught having any type of queer sex — marking a brutal set-back for LGBTQ rights.

As of today, in Brunei, gay sex and adultery can be punished with death by stoning — and the president of the United States hasn’t said a word about it.

Donald Trump’s silence comes despite his administration’s announced campaign to end the criminalization of homosexuality around the world — although that is something he seemed to have no clue about when questioned on it in February.

The small but oil-rich nation is an absolute monarchy ruled by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah who decided to set this new rule with little explanation to why.

"I want to see Islamic teachings in this country grow stronger," Bolkiah said on Wedneseday morning local time, according to AFP news agency, but did not mention the new laws.

Homosexuality has been illegal and punishable by up to 10 years in prison for some time already — and are connected to Bolkiah's 2014 pursuits to usher in more conservative laws. However this new era seems to promise a level of brutality that has put the global community on edge. » | Trudy Ring | Wednesday, April 3, 2019

Brunei Sultan Calls for Islamic Teachings to Be Strengthened as He Implements Death by Stoning for Gay Sex

THE TELEGRAPH: Brunei's sultan called for Islamic teachings in the country to be strengthened as strict new sharia punishments, including death by stoning for gay sex and adultery, were due to come into force on Wednesday.

The tough penal code in the tiny country on tropical Borneo island - ruled by the all-powerful Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah - is set to be fully implemented following years of delays.

The laws, which also include amputation of hands and feet for thieves, will make Brunei the first place in East or Southeast Asia to have a sharia penal code at the national level, joining several mostly Middle Eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia.

Rape and robbery are also punishable by death under the code and many of the new laws, such as capital punishment for insulting the Prophet Mohammed, apply to non-Muslims as well as Muslims. » | Agence France-Presse | Wednesday, April 3, 2019

Trump Lashes Out at Germany over Military Budget | DW News

NATO is marking its 70th birthday today. The military alliance was created to protect Europe from threats from the Soviet Union. After the fall of the Berlin Wall and the ultimate collapse of the Soviet Union, NATO has been redefining itself. Its 29 member states - and Germany in particular - have come under mounting pressure from Washington since President Donald Trump took office. He has demanded other NATO allies increase their spending on military budgets. At a press conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Trump reiterated complaints about German Chancellor Angela Merkel and about Germany failing to meet targets of spending 2 percent of GDP on defense.

Calls for Independent Probe Persist Six Months after Khashoggi Murder | Al Jazeera English

It has now been six months since Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered in the Saudi consulate in Turkey. Saudi Arabia admitted Khashoggi was the victim of premeditated murder and of the 21 suspects it had taken into custody, 11 have been indicted. But many say an independent trial is necessary amid accusations that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the killing and is deflecting responsibility. Al Jazeera's Andrew Simmons reports.

Brunei Brings in Stoning to Death for Gay Sex, Despite Outcry

THE GUARDIAN: Shock among LGBT community in tiny southeast Asian kingdom as nation moves towards strict sharia law

Brunei’s small underground LGBT community have expressed shock and dismay over Brunei’s plan to bring in the punishment of death by stoning for adultery and gay sex.

The laws were scheduled to be introduced on Wednesday in the tiny south-east Asian kingdom ruled by the all-powerful Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.

The new punishments, which also include amputation of hands and feet for thieves, will make Brunei the first country in east or southeast Asia to have a sharia penal code at the national level. Several mostly Middle Eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia also adhere to sharia law. » | Kate Lamb in Jakarta and agencies | Wednesday, April 3, 2019