The United Nations has responded to the nation of Brunei, a sovereign state in southeast Asia, where officials are reportedly set to roll out a new penal code including death by stoning as punishment for same-sex acts. Other offenses referenced in the revision of capital punishment regulations reportedly include " rape, adultery, sodomy, extramarital sexual relations for Muslims, insulting any verses of the Quran and Hadith, blasphemy, declaring oneself a prophet or non-Muslim, and murder."
The revised penal code is slated to go into effect April 22, according to Gay Asia News and other media outlets.
°Application of the death penalty for such a broad range of offenses contravenes international law, Rupert Colville, spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said in a statement."We urge the Government to delay the entry into force of the revised penal code and to conduct a comprehensive review ensuring its compliance with international human rights standards, he told a news conference in Geneva."
Brunei has reportedly not carried out any executionssince 1957.
Brunei is the latest in a series of countries to pass anti-gay laws that could result in extreme punishments for those engaging in same-sex acts. In February, Uganda's president signed a billthat calls for first-time offenders of same-sex acts to be sentenced to 14 years in jail, and "repeat offenders" could receive life in prison. Additionally, Nigeria has a similar anti-gay law that makes same-sex relationships illegaland sets penalties of same-sex acts at up to 14 years in prison.
