Brunei says it won’t enforce death penalty for gay sex

(BBC) – Brunei has backtracked on laws introduced last month that would have made sex between men and adultery punishable by stoning to death.

Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah on Sunday extended a moratorium on the death penalty to the new legislation.

The reversal follows global outcry over the laws, including boycotts and celebrity protests.

While permitted for some crimes, no executions have been carried out in Brunei since 1957.

Last month Brunei rolled out a strict new interpretation of Islamic laws, or Sharia.

In a speech, the sultan said he was aware there had been “many questions and misperceptions” regarding the implementation of the legislation, called Syariah Penal Code Order (SPCO).

While saying that a moratorium on the death penalty would be applied to the SPCO he also defended the new rules, saying their “merit” would become clear.

The speech marks the first time the country’s ruler has spoken publicly about the legislation since their introduction.

Homosexuality was already illegal in Brunei and punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

Muslims make up about two-thirds of the country’s population of 420,000.