NPR

Brunei Won't Enforce Death-By-Stoning Law For Gay Sex, Sultan Says

After more than a month of criticism and a high-profile boycott, the sultan of Brunei says his country will extend its moratorium on the death penalty to include new Islamic laws.
Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah, seen arriving for meetings in Brussels last fall, now says his country will not impose the death penalty in cases involving gay sex and adultery.

The sultan of Brunei says his country will extend its moratorium on the death penalty to include newly enacted laws punishing homosexual acts and adultery with death by stoning, in an apparent response to weeks of criticism and a high-profile boycott.

The harsh punishments took effect on and Elton John urged a boycott of luxury hotels owned by the country's investment agency. Many of those properties are in Europe and the U.S., including the Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles and The Dorchester in London.

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