Brunei on Wednesday introduced harsh new sharia laws - including death by stoning for adultery and gay sex - despite a storm of global criticism from rights groups. Here are some facts about sharia law and how it is interpreted around the world:
- including death by stoning for adultery and gay sex - despite a storm of global criticism from rights groups.
The manner of its application in modern times has been a subject of dispute between conservative and liberal Muslims, and it remains a contested topic around the world.Some aspects have been widely accepted - such as how it applies to banking - with even Western companies introducing Islamic finance products to attract Muslim customers.
Homosexual acts are not only illegal but punishable by execution - although the usual penalty has been limited to flogging and imprisonment.In extreme cases, such as the rape of a child, the condemned man is sometimes ordered crucified after execution. Public flogging is common for a range of offenses in the region at the tip of Sumatra island, including gambling, drinking alcohol, adultery and having gay sex.Aceh adopted religious law after it was granted special autonomy in 2001, an attempt by the central government to quell a long-running separatist insurgency.
Sharia courts implementing the laws ran parallel to the mainstream British-influenced Pakistan Penal Code, and covered adultery, false accusations in court, property crimes and prohibition of drugs and alcohol.
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