New terrifying laws are going to be introduced in Brunei which will allow the government to beat same-sex couples to death and even stone them to death.

The new laws that are going to be introduced include those convicted people of robbery or adultery can have their limbs cut off.

The new laws will come in action from April 3, 2019, the new laws received a lot of criticism from human rights activists.

Under the current legislation, same sex marriage is still illegal in the country and those who get caught of being part of the LGBTQ community can face long term sentences and jail time.

Rachel Chhoa-Howard a researcher at the Amnesty International in Brunei has demanded to reverse these changes to the leaders of the country.

Rachel Chhoa-Howard said, “Pending provisions in Brunei’s Penal Code would allow stoning and amputation as punishments – including for children, to name only their most heinous aspects. Brunei must immediately halt its plans to implement these vicious punishments, and revise its Penal Code in compliance with its human rights obligations. The international community must urgently condemn Brunei’s move to put these cruel penalties into practice.”

Rachel Chhoa-Howard added, “As well as imposing cruel, inhuman and degrading punishments, it blatantly restricts the rights to freedom of expression, religion, and belief, and codifies discrimination against women and girls.”

Ryan Silverio, from the ASEAN SOGIE Caucus, a group of the human rights that is based in the Manila, Philippines said that the new laws are too severe and are a threat to the lives of the innocent people of Brunei.

Ryan Silverio said, “The full implementation of sharia penal law will apply severe penalties against consensual same-sex relations, including death penalty via stoning.”

In 2014, Brunei began to implement stricter laws on homosexuality after the country announced the introduction of the Islamic Criminal Law. This was brought in gradually with over 3 stages, which include jail time for pregnancy without marriage, fines, and for those people who do not pray during Fridays.

Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah called the new laws as a ‘great achievement’.

Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah said, “The decision to implement the (penal code) is not for fun but is to obey Allah’s command as written in the Quran.”

Brunei has delayed the 3rd stage after it received heavy criticism from the international community who condemned the archaic punishments under the new laws.

Matthew Woolfe, the founder of The Brunei Project, a human rights group, said, “We are trying to get pressure placed on the government of Brunei but realise there is a very short time frame until the laws take effect.

Matthew Woolfe added, “It took us by surprise that the government has now given a date and is rushing through implementation.”

The ASEAN SOGIE Caucus said that the new laws will be followed starting on April 3, 2019, which falls on a Wednesday.