Bandar Seri Begawan: Brunei's Prime Minister on Sunday has announced that there will be no capital punishment for those convicted of gay sex and adultery that sparked an international outcry.
Speaking to media, Sultan Hanssanal Bolkiah said that he would ban the death penalty in order to cover the new legislation.
Earlier, he said that a stern new penal code will be established under which adultery and gay sex would be punished by stoning to death. Brunei's decision caused immediate international uproar .
Celebrities such as George Clooney and Elton John joined in the condemnation of the decision. Financial companies like JP Morgan and Deutsche bank decided to avoid using Brunei owned hotels as a mark of protest.
Sultan of Brunei tried to justify the decision by saying that "Both the common law and the Syariah law aim to ensure peace and harmony of the country. They are also crucial in protecting the morality and decency of the public as well as respecting the privacy of individuals."
The LGBT community and human rights activists felt relief in the wake of Sultan Bolkiah's announcement on Sunday.
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