The United Nations has responded to the nation of Brunei, a sovereign state in southeast Asia, where officials are reportedly set to roll out a new penal code including death by stoning as punishment for same-intercourse acts.
Other offenses referenced in the revision of capital punishment regulations reportedly include "rape, adultery, sodomy, extramarital intercourseual relations for Muslims (http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp/story.asp?NewsID=47552&Cr=death+penalty&Cr1=#.U02Bn1Hqcbg), insulting any verses of the Quran and Hadith, blasphemy, declaring oneself a prophet or non-Muslim, and murder."
The revised penal code is slated to go into effect (http://gayasianews.com/2014/04/15/un-urges-brunei-to-delay-new-law-mandating-stoning-of-gay-people/) April 22, according to Gay Asia News and other media outlets.
"Application of the death penalty for such a broad range of offenses contravenes international law," Rupert Colville, spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said in a statement (http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp/story.asp?NewsID=47552&Cr=death+penalty&Cr1=#.U02Bn1Hqcbg). "We urge the Government to delay the entry into force of the revised penal code and to conduct a comprehensive review ensuring its compliance with international human rights standards," he told a news conference in Geneva.
Brunei has reportedly not carried out any executions (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/Rest-of-World/UN-criticizes-Brunei-over-tough-new-Islamic-law/articleshow/33622344.cms) since 1957.
Brunei is the latest in a series of countries to pass anti-gay laws that could result in extreme punishments for those engaging in same-intercourse acts. In February, Uganda's president signed a bill (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/24/ugandan-president-signs-anti-gay-bill_n_4845722.html) that calls for first-time offenders of same-intercourse acts to be sentenced to 14 years in jail, and "repeat offenders" could receive life in prison. Additionally, Nigeria has a similar anti-gay law that makes same-intercourse relationships illegal (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/13/nigeria-anti-gay-bill-law-_n_4589227.html) and sets penalties of same-intercourse acts at up to 14 years in prison.
Source: huffingtonpost.com