Brunei: The shari’a surprise
May 1, 2014 will be significant in the history of the lush and sleepy Southeast Asian state of Brunei.
Peter Riddell, Vice Principal (Academic) at the Melbourne School of Theology, and is a Senior Fellow of Kairos Journal
On that day, the Sultanate enacted potentially harsh shari’a legal codes, following instructions by the country’s 67-year-old absolute monarch. Protests by Hollywood stars boycotting the Beverly Hills Hotel chain partially owned by Brunei authorities ensured that Brunei’s dramatic move has hit the international media.