Brunei

Facts About Sharia Law Around The World

Brunei today introduces harsh new sharia laws – including death by stoning for adultery and gay sex – despite a storm of global criticism from rights groups. Although most Muslim nations incorporate elements of sharia law in their legal systems, very few carry out the harsher punishments – known as hudud – which even Muslim scholars disagree on.Here are some facts about sharia law and how it is interpreted around the world:What Is Sharia Law?Sharia is a religious law forming

3 April 2019
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UN slams 'inhuman' Brunei law 

The United Nations (UN) decried Monday new "cruel and inhuman" laws set to take effect in Brunei this week which impose death by stoning for gay sex and adultery, and amputations for theft."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," UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet said in a statement.Brunei, an absolute monarchy ruled fo

2 April 2019
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George Clooney: Boycott Brunei-owned hotels

American actor George Clooney has called for a boycott of nine Brunei-owned hotels over the sultanate's imposition of the death penalty for gay sex and adultery."Every single time we stay at or take meetings at or dine at any of these nine hotels, we are putting money directly into the pockets of men who choose to stone and whip to death their own citizens for being gay or accused of adultery," Clooney wrote on the website Deadline Hollywood."I've learned over years o

31 March 2019
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Brunei to impose death by stoning for gay sex

Adultery and gay sex in Brunei will be subject to death by stoning from next week, authorities said, under a strict Sharia law that has been on hold for four years amid heavy criticism.Rights groups reacted in horror Wednesday to the latest hard-line move from the resource-rich nation on Borneo, which practises a stricter brand of Islam than its neighbours Malaysia and Indonesia.The tiny sultanate will implement the harsh new penal code – which also prescribes amputation of a hand and foot fo

28 March 2019
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Ensuring Brunei has enough rice

The launching of Brunei’s biggest commercial paddy field later this year combined with higher yielding varieties of paddy are expected to help the country meet its rice self-sufficiency target in 2020.The sultanate is embarking on a concerted effort to reach its rice self-sufficiency target of 11 percent by 2020 and wean itself off imports from Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam – which make up around 30,000 tonnes annually. Once a thriving industry, Brunei’s rice farmers only produced 1

27 March 2019
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Youth key to Brunei’s development

As Brunei celebrates its 35th National Day today, the country’s residents can be heartened by their progress in the last three and a half decades. A British protectorate since 1888, Brunei gained independence in 1984 and is an active member of the international and regional community – joining ASEAN the same year.

23 February 2019
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Age is an asset in Brunei

While in most countries, an ageing population is a sign of potential dwindling economic productivity, Brunei paints a different picture to this conundrum.Speaking at a forum titled ‘New Frontiers in Social Research on Ageing: Implications for Brunei Darussalam’, earlier this week, the country’s Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Awang Haji Aminuddin said that Brunei sees the elderly in the country as critical stakeholders towards future national development.“We don’t paint a pessimistic p

31 December 2018
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Could Islamic tourism be Brunei’s answer?

Last year, when speaking about the drop in his country’s tourism sector, an unnamed government official suggested that Lao PDR should attempt to put more effort into attracting tourists from Muslim countries in the region. He said that by providing prayer rooms in public places along with promoting halal (permissible or lawful in traditional Islamic law) restaurants, the country would be more welcoming to Muslim visitors.

28 October 2018
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Brunei’s unevenly distributed income

Brunei is one of the most prosperous nations in ASEAN by far, with a gross domestic product (GDP) per capita of US$26,935 in 2017 according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

27 October 2018
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Islamic finance: A lucrative opportunity

This coming week, Brunei will be hosting the Brunei Islamic Capital Market (BICAM) Conference 2018, its first Islamic Capital Market Conference at the Rizqun International Hotel where more than a dozen international experts in Islamic finance are expected to meet, deliberate and raise awareness on growing Islamic capital markets.

20 October 2018
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Digitalising Brunei

Brunei Vision 2035 (Wawasan Brunei 2035) is a developmental framework that was first formulated in 2004 by the country’s monarch, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah. This project aims to propel the country to greater heights on many fronts. When measured by the highest international standards, Brunei Vision 2035 looks to build a citizenry that is not only well-educated but highly-skilled.

30 September 2018
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Brunei is looking to diversify

Oil-rich Brunei is facing a problem: an over-dependence on oil and gas for its revenue. According to the BP World Energy Outlook, Brunei’s oil reserves are projected to run out by 2035. In addressing this issue, one of the sectors the country is looking at to diversify its economy is tourism.Under its 2016-2020 Strategic Plan, Brunei’s Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism targets increasing tourist arrivals from 218,000 in 2015 to 450,000 in 2020.

8 September 2018
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