Regression to Conservative Practices: Is This The New Normal?

     On April 3rd, 2019 (last week), the tiny country of Brunei enacted a series of strict Islamic laws, including death by stoning for homosexual male sex.  Other laws that were passed include offenses such as adultery, rape, and abortion can all also be punished with death by stoning, amputation for theft, and lesbian sex with 40 lashings or up to 10 years in prison. These strict Islamic laws are also known as Sharia law which is Islam’s legal system that is derived from the Qur’an. “Sharia law acts as a code for living that all Muslims should adhere to, including prayers, fasting and donations to the poor. It aims to help Muslims understand how they should lead every aspect of their lives according to God's wishes” (What is Sharia and How is it Applied?, BBC News).
     After these laws were put into place, there was massive public protest, especially online. Celebrities jumped onto all social media platforms to spread the word of what was happening. Actor George Clooney called for a boycott of nine luxury hotels around the world controlled by the government-owned Brunei Investment Agency. In an interview with Deadline, Clooney said "In the onslaught of news where we see the world backsliding into authoritarianism this stands alone (CNN).  

Part of the international condemnation came from UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet who said in a statement "I appeal to the Government to stop the entry into force of this draconian new penal code, which would mark a serious setback for human rights protections for the people of Brunei if implemented” (CNN).  This is all despite the fact that Brunei had already signed the United Nations Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. They seem to be ignoring that part. 

The Sultan of Brunei, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, 72, has ruled since 1967 and happens to be one of the wealthiest people in the world due to his oil-rich nation. In response to the public outcry that happened after the law was enacted, he said in public address "I want to see Islamic teachings in this country grow stronger," without mentioning the strict new interpretation of Sharia, or Islamic law (Brunei Implements Stoning to Death Under Anti-LGBT Laws, BBC News). Other than being barbaric, another terrible aspect of these laws is that there is a possibility that these laws could influence their neighboring Islamic countries (Indonesia and Malaysia) to also pass strict laws against homosexuals like these (New York Times). 

One of the many questions being asked about this is: why now?  There multiple possible explanations on the table, but the founder of the human rights organization The Brunei Project, Matthew Woolfe says “One theory is that it is a way for the government to strengthen its hold on power in the face of a declining economy that could potentially lead to some unrest in future… Connected to this is [Brunei's] interest in attracting more investment from the Muslim world, along with more Islamic tourists… this could be seen as one way of appealing to this market” (Brunei Implements Stoning to Death Under Anti-LGBT Laws, BBC News).

Sociologically speaking, this situation could be seen from a conflict theory perspective. If what is encouraging the Sultan of Brunei to pass these cruel laws is to hold more power over his people because he is afraid of revolt then he is definitely benefiting himself at the expense of the LGBTQ+ community of Brunei. People from the community have been fleeing Brunei seeking refugee status to Western places that are more accepting like Canada and Europe. If he is passing these brutal laws to attract more investment he is still benefitting in order to maintain his own wealth at the cost of gay men’s lives. Yes, being gay was already a taboo in Muslim culture, however it is up to each country to set the punishment for such offenses and this seems like an extreme sanction. This feels like an overcompensation for feeling like he is losing power over his people in an age of progression. Similar to what the U.S. did with electing President Trump.  While I’m trying to prevent myself from falling into ethnocentric tendencies, this punishment still seems drastic as he is passing them in 2019 and not when he first came into power. The Sultan’s motivations feel fueled more by his wish for power, rather than based in his religious beliefs. 

Works Cited

• The Editorial Board. “Brunei's Royal Barbarity and Hypocrisy.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 9 Apr. 2019, www.nytimes.com/2019/04/09/opinion/brunei-sultan-shariah-law.html?action=click&module=Well&pgtype=Homepage&section=Editorials.

• Tan, Yvette. “Brunei Implements Stoning to Death under Anti-LGBT Laws.” BBC News, BBC, 3 Apr. 2019, www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-47769964.

• “What Is Sharia and How Is It Applied?” BBC News, BBC, 7 May 2014, www.bbc.com/news/world-27307249.

• Wright, Rebecca, and Alexandra Field. “Brunei's LGBT Community Flees 'Inhumane' New Stoning Laws.” CNN, Cable News Network, 3 Apr. 2019, www.cnn.com/2019/04/02/asia/brunei-lgbt-inhumane-stoning-laws-intl/index.html.