The Sultan of Brunei has introduced what many may consider to be somewhat harsh penalties to a wide variety of people for ‘anti-islamic’ activities. The death penalty will apply to rape, adultery, sodomy, extramarital sexual relations for Muslims, robbery, and insult or defamation of the Prophet Mohammad, among others. It introduces public flogging as a punishment for abortion, and amputation for theft. It also criminalises exposing Muslim children to the beliefs and practices of any religion other than Islam. I wonder if you might do me a favour and follow the advice given above by Ellen DeGeneres who, herself, would face 40 strokes of the cane and/or a maximum of 10 years in jail and boycott the above hotel chain?
I will certainly never again visit the Dorchester (I went there once: someone else was paying) and any thoughts I had of a weekend break in the Beverly Hills Hotel are a definite no no from now on. It is, admittedly, unlikely that I would ever be wealthy enough to stay in any of them. It’s the principle, though, isn’t it?
Actor George Clooney and elderly crooner Elton John are wealthy enough to stay in the Sultan’s hotel group so it is good that they are urging a boycott. What can the rest of us do?
The answer is, as individuals, not much. We can write to our MPs and I would urge folk to do that. I’d like to see the UN bring about sanctions against Brunei and indeed any other backward, oppressive country that behaves like this. We can boycott anything to do with Brunei (I will certainly make sure I don’t mistakenly buy their wine and beer if I happen to come across any). Don’t go there on holiday (as if). We can, and should, join the National Secular Society and challenge all forms of religious privilege and in this instance abuse.
It is hard to believe this sort of thing goes on in the 21st century. Or is it? The Middle East is a powder keg of islamist fanaticism. In our country we have plenty of religious fanatics – not just muslims, by the way – who want to live their lives outside the law. Sorry to come across all Yaxley-Lennon but we do need to make it clear that we have one set of laws and everyone has to live their lives under those laws.
This is not to say people should not have the right to believe in whichever God they like. If people want to pray, go to their church/mosque/temple/synagogue, it’s up to them. As long as they do it in their own time, at their own expense and it in no way affects the lives of those of other religions or none, live and let live, I say. It’s when religion gets in the way of freedom I get a little peeved.
Not that there is a great deal of freedom in places like Brunei. They have a parliament. Just no elections. I don’t know why on earth we have anything to do with countries such as these. But introducing the death penalty for insulting or defaming the Prophet Mohammad, who almost certainly never actually existed, seems a bit strong to me.
The great comedian Dave Allen used to end his shows with the words, “May your God go with you.” Amen to all that. But don’t let him bother me, eh?
