“‘It is not the local authorities’ responsibility to go to every other country in the hope of keeping tabs of these misconducts committed by citizens and permanent residents of Brunei’, essentially clarifying that those who have committed such crimes will be charged should a complaint be made against them by the nation’s citizens or permanent residents for their public alcohol consumption in countries outside of Brunei.” So if you’re a Bruneian in Adelaide or Manila and it’s hot day and you’d like to toss back a couple of cold ones, just make sure there aren’t any other Bruneians around. This illustrates how close the congruence is between Sharia and life in totalitarian states, in which people grab small joys furtively, always looking over their shoulder to make sure no informants are around.
“Non-Muslim Bruneians can’t drink in public abroad,” from the Borneo Bulletin, April 17 (thanks to Bradamante):
ALCOHOL consumption in the public by non-Muslim citizens and/or permanent residents during their time abroad would be punishable under the Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction of the Syariah Penal Code Order 2013, which will be implemented in Brunei on April 22. This was made clear by the panel of speakers at the Syariah Briefing conducted especially for the International Students Association in Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) yesterday.
However, it was said that for crimes that fall under the Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction in Chapter 184 of the Syariah Penal Code of 2013, “It is not the local authorities’ responsibility to go to every other country in the hope of keeping tabs of these misconducts committed by citizens and permanent residents of Brunei”, essentially clarifying that those who have committed such crimes will be charged should a complaint be made against them by the nation’s citizens or permanent residents for their public alcohol consumption in countries outside of Brunei.
In relation to that, it was clarified at the briefing that private alcohol consumption among non-Muslims is not a crime, be it in or out of the country.
Another most sought after clarification at the briefing was that of adultery, and what circumstances would qualify for the act to be fully punishable under the penal code. In the briefing, the panel of speakers clarified that circumstantial evidence will not suffice to fully prosecute an individual for the crime of adultery, thus giving an exemplary scenario in which four male witnesses would be present to testify against the adulterers. “Unless these four male witnesses can provide proof of penetration, the accused individuals will not be charged with adultery,” they said.
This is based on Qur’an 24:4 and 24:13, which specifies that there must be four witnesses to establish adultery.
“However, they will be charged under other chapters of the Syariah Penal Code, for the crimes they commit that are evident (in this scenario, performing sexual acts, close proximity and others).”
An expatriate raised a question in regard to that section of the briefing for a clarification of whether or not performing sexual acts outside marriage for non-Muslims would be punishable should they be caught. In response, the speakers assured that this particular code only applies if both or either one of the individuals committing the act is a Muslim.
One particular scholar raised a question for what qualifies as indecent clothing for non-Muslims in the country, to which the speakers responded that there need to be an understanding of whether or not that particular clothing is suitable to be worn in the public at certain places, adding that, “it would qualify only if it tarnishes the image of Islam”, and it will be “subject to full investigation”.
As there were several questions raised for clarifications, one that went unanswered until further development of the Syariah Penal Code Order 2013, was the question of whether the publication of intimate photos or those showing close proximity of married couples on social networking websites would be deemed illegal under the upcoming law. A woman had addressed the matter saying that it does not portray a crime as it involves a married couple.
The panel assured that although this has not been mentioned under the Syariah Penal Code Order 2013, the nation’s Civil Law involving defamation or abuse of the Internet would still be applicable, which would then also be “subject to further investigations”.
RonaldB says
I have a friend who did some work inside Brunei as an employee of a contracting company. He had little interest in the political or religious situation inside Brunei, so he took away the impression that the country was a tolerable place to be, except that it had excellent restaurants.
At this point, being under sharia law, Brunei is unsafe for any Muslim or non-Muslim who ever posted a remark critical of Muhammud or Islam, under facebook or even under a pseudonym. The point is, if the remark could be traced back to a person, they are subject to execution, ragardless of where they were living when the remark was posted.
Of course, they could look to their government’s embassy, which in times past woulld have at least a possibility of exerting diplomatic pressure in favor of their citizens. Does anyone believe the US embassy would risk the displeasure of a multi-billionaire like the sultan of Brunei, simply to protect one of their citizens?
umbra says
Depends who the US citizen is and if news of the transgression has reached the public domain (in brunei especially). In brunei, some things hand be handled behind the scene for the right price. But then again, this is true for many if not all OIC countries.
bill says
I worked in Brunei in the late 80s and early 90s for British company. The first thing we were told at the briefing for new staff was that if we got into trouble with the local authorities, we should not look to the consulate to help us!!
umbra says
brunei, another hole, but getting deeper and bigger.
Transmaster says
Well you can check Brunei off as a tourist destination.
umbra says
brunei, nothing to see, nothing to do to begin with. But now, plenty of additional things to-be-done to individuals who do not conform.
Veracious_one says
Will the Brunei religious police travel abroad to spy on it’s citizens in order to flag them for prosecution and/or will they set up a Muslim hot line for fellow rabid Muslims to call in to report on Muslims traveling abroad…..In Islam all it takes to be prosecution is an allegation of perceived wrongdoing….Islam thrives on fear….
Joe Pk. says
All it might take is a call to the local Imam. Imams act as judges and can pass whatever sentence is called for under Islam.
An Islamic country passing laws affecting its citizens abroad is another way of extending Shariah worldwide. One of the likely results is that an Islamic person caught drinking in a western country might choose to not go home. Those people will however be subject to extortion, and might be forced into jihadi activity in their new country.
I’m guessing that more islamic countries will create that type of law.
Jay Boo says
Muhammad is singing the character assassin Brunei blues.
Muslims so love to spy on each other.
duh_swami says
Well, the long arm of sharia for kuffar reaches a long way. I guess those kuffar better settle for fruit juice.
Jay Boo says
are jihad suicide bombers to be forbidden from ordering a ‘kamikaze’ ( vodka, triple sec and lime juice) at the bar.
mortimer says
The draconian system of Sharia has just become more draconian. Brunei should be boycotted.
We must stop buying their oil so they can make less mischief.
CTSheeran says
Somehow this old joke seems appropriate now…
Q: How many Bruneians do you take fishing?
A: At least 2, so they don’t drink your beer.
umbra says
No good if both are dishonest ROP followers.
mariam rove says
very funny!!!! M
boakai ngombu says
even though the mosque is porous, this will have a chilling affect upon folks desiring fresh thought (as opposed to the limiting vistas got from SHARIA) and inventive (as in learning about the Unique God, full of grace, who would come close to even the enslaved adherent to the SHARIA) ways and other courses closed off by such codes.
Salah says
“Unless these four male witnesses can provide proof of penetration, the accused individuals will not be charged with adultery,” they said.
And since no one was there to provide “proof of penetration”, little Aisha and handsome Safwan were declared innocent. Their accusers were flogged.
http://crossmuslims.blogspot.com/2011/10/aisha-and-safwan.html
Defcon 4 says
The HuffPo today posted a piece whinging about the treatment of islam0nazis in the Central African Republic. Strangely enough, I have yet to see a single story about the more than a thousand Christians murdered by muslimes in Nigeria over the last 12 months. Funny that.
Jay Boo says
Same with NPR
Just before the backlash against Muslims in the CAR, NPR suddenly went into a frenzy about a possible ‘civil war’ is about to happen and how the world (UN) needs to hurry up and stop it.
Knowing that NPR would never dare risk its PC Islamo-friendly credentials to defend Christians my ‘spidy’ senses told me it must be Muslims getting caught in their own mess expecting to be bailed out.
Sure enough
Who tipped off NPR and Huff in advance?
Defcon 4 says
I wonder if the punishments for adultery will be as unevenly handed out as they are in the rest of the pisslamic world? Where it would seem women are committing adultery all by themselves.
Jay Boo says
The reason adultery is punished unevenly is likely to put the shame and blame on women in order to excuse the wanton piggish adultery of ‘prophet’ Muhammad.
Of course there are Muslims who will proudly claim that Muhammad waited until after he beheaded the husbands of his sex slaves before committing adultery with the then ‘unmarried’ widows.
john spielman says
Ah, ISLAM creating fascist ideas and fascist minds in fascist states since 635 AD.B
john spielman says
Ah, ISLAM creating fascist ideas and fascist minds in fascist states since 635 AD