Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah said that his country has had a “de facto moratorium” on the death penalty under common law. (AFP/Getty Images)The sultan of Brunei said his country would not impose the death penalty, appearing to back away from harsh punishments including death by stoning for gay sex and adultery under strict new laws that took effect last month. Speaking Sunday in a televised address, his first comments since the laws were enacted amid significant international backlash, he noted that Brunei has had a “de facto moratorium” on the death penalty under common law. Home to fewer than a half-million people, the tiny sultanate on the island of Borneo was not a comfortable place for the LGBT community even before the laws took effect. Read more:Brunei once held off on strict Islamic laws to stay in a U.S. trade pact.

Source: Washington Post May 06, 2019 07:28 UTC