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Brunei to adopt Islamic Sharia Law within 3 years

Source: Countries with Sharia Rule
Intellectual Takeout
The Sultanate of Brunei is a tiny oil-rich country in East Asia with a population of about 440,000 people. Roughly seventy percent of it's inhabitants are Muslim. Brunei's ruler announced in 2013 that the country would be gradually adopting Sharia law.

Sharia is the Islamic code of law based on the social and religious rules as laid out in the Muslim holy book, the Koran (Qur'an).

CNN reports that during a ceremony last week "the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanel Bolkiah, announced the commencement of the first phase of the sharia-based penal code, according to the government's official website."

"As per [the law's] provisions, sexual offenses such as rape, adultery and sodomy will be considered punishable acts for Muslims. Consensual sex between homosexuals will also be criminalized, with death by stoning the prescribed punishment."
Source: Brunei adopts sharia law amid international outcry, CNN.com

The Los Angeles Times explains what the first phase means exactly:
"Under the first phase, fines and jail terms were introduced Thursday for offenses that include failure to attend Friday prayers, indecent behavior and pregnancies outside of marriage, the Star Online regional news site reported."
Source: Sultan of Brunei adopts harsh Islamic criminal code, LA Times

The United Nations; various Human Rights groups; LGBT, women's rights and equality advocates; The Motion Picture & Television Fund; Richard Branson; Jay Leno and others have publicly spoken out against Brunei's implementation of Sharia Law.
Sources: Beverly Hills Hotel Boycotted Over Brunei's Sharia Penal Code, Huffington Post and Celebs boycotten hotelketen wegens sharia, De Telegraaf.


What do you think? Should Brunei implement an Islam-based legal system with punishments that are far from humane because religion calls for it or should the legal system be adapted to modern times while retaining it's distinctive character? It's a question every country with a Muslim-majority population asks itself, yet not all turn to a strict form of Sharia.

Personally, I would like more Islamic states to follow the example of such countries as Turkey, Morocco and Jordan - countries that embrace both Islam as a religion and a way of life, yet also understand the fact that it is impossible to live in the past.


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