Malta Officially Condemns Brunei’s ‘Abominable’ New LGBT Stoning Law As Global Boycott Commences
Malta has officially condemned the nation of Brunei following their enacting of an Islamic Sharia Law that makes having gay sex punishable by stoning to death.
“The introduction of a Brunei law to stone and kill individuals for no other reason than expressing their innate sexuality is abominable,” Equality Minister Helena Dalli said in a tweet earlier today. “More than ever we need a global alliance to challenge the criminalisation of LGBTIQ sexual and gender diversity the world over.”
Following the tweet, a state spokesperson confirmed with Lovin Malta that the government endorses Minister Dalli’s tweet.
The introduction of a #Brunei law to stone and kill individuals for no other reason than expressing their innate sexuality is abominable.
More than ever we need a global alliance to challenge the criminalisation of #LGBTIQ sexual and gender diversity the world over.@free_equal
— Helena Dalli (@helenadalli) April 4, 2019
The government’s response comes during a global movement to boycott Brunei and any businesses or hotels associated with the island nation
Superstar host Ellen DeGeneres, singer Elton John and tennis star Billie Jean King have all voiced their support of actor George Clooney’s original idea of a boycott to show their disapproval of the way Brunei is treating members of the LGBT community.
As countries around the world – including Malta – move to enshrine laws protecting the LGBT community, Brunei is going in the opposite direction, enacting the harshest penalty for those found to be engaging in anal sex.
At least nine hotel chains have been named in the boycott list
And the boycott of Brunei is entering various industries: adverts promoting Brunei have been removed from London’s transport networks, and Deutsche Bank has banned its staff from staying at Dorchester hotels, one of the nine named chains.
I commend my friend, #GeorgeClooney, for taking a stand against the anti-gay discrimination and bigotry taking place in the nation of #Brunei – a place where gay people are brutalized, or worse – by boycotting the Sultan’s hotels.https://t.co/8ymurW7hqm
— Elton John (@eltonofficial) March 30, 2019
A list of Brunei-supported hotels has been making the rounds as places to be boycotted, which Helena Dalli also retweeted
Tomorrow, the country of #Brunei will start stoning gay people to death. We need to do something now. Please boycott these hotels owned by the Sultan of Brunei. Raise your voices now. Spread the word. Rise up. pic.twitter.com/24KJsemPGH
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) April 2, 2019