Page - 373 - in Menschenrechte und Gerechtigkeit als bleibende Aufgaben - Beiträge aus Religion, Theologie, Ethik, Recht und Wirtschaft

© 2020, Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht GmbH & Co. KG, Göttingen ISBN Print: 9783847111658 – ISBN E-Lib: 9783737011655 tionandunderstandingof theSPCO.74 InthethirdUPRofBrunei, conductedin May2019shortlyafter theentry intoforceof themostcontroversialpartsof the SPCO, the number of States explicitly referring to the penal code and recom- mending its suspension, reviewor repeal had risen to 33,with only onemore positive recommendation fromVenezuela.75 TheUnitedNationsreacted inotherwaysaswell: Ina jointcommunication, fivemandate-holdersofHumanRightsCouncil Special Procedures sent a joint letter to Brunei, expressing their grave concern over “the impositionof cruel, inhumananddegradingpunishments (…) inconnectionwith the criminalisa- tionofadulteryandconsensual samesex relations,”urging the revocationand complete repeal of the SPCO, layingoutmuch the samearguments as above.76 TheGovernmentofBruneirespondedtothe letterwithaffirmationsofnational sovereigntyandanoffertoclearupthe“misconceptions”abouttheSPCOonthe partoftheUnitedNations:TheSPCO“aimstorespectandprotectthelegitimate rightsofall individuals,societyandnationalityofanyfaithandrace,” focussing “more on prevention than punishment”, with the aim to “educate, deter, re- habilitate andnurture rather thantopunish.”TheSPCO“doesnot criminalise norhasany intentiontovictimiseaperson’s statusbasedonsexualorientation orbelief, includingsame-sexrelations,”andaccordingly theoffencesofadultery and sodomywouldnot apply to non-Muslims. It also cited the very high evi- dentiary standard for capital and corporal punishments, whichmay lead the convictionsofhadd to“rest solelyonconfessions”.The lawsof theSPCOwere “notman-madebutordainedbyAllah(…)andnot tobemisunderstoodasany kindof radicalisation.”77 Severaloftheseclaimsarepatentlyfalse.Theoffencesofadulteryandsodomy doapply tonon-Muslims, the former ifoneof thepartners isMuslim, the latter appliesto‘anyperson’regardlessofreligion.Likewisetheabsurdclaimthatalaw criminalisingacts tobesanctionedwithpunishmentswhichamount to torture 74 UnitedNationsWorkingGroupontheUniversalPeriodicReview,AddendumtotheReport onBruneiDarussalam,A/HRC/27/11/add.1,outcome(3). 75 UnitedNationsWorkingGroup on theUniversal Periodic Review, Draft Report – Brunei Darussalamof14May2019,A/HRC/WG.6/33/L.9, see:https://extranet.ohchr.org/sites/upr/ Sessions/33session/BruneiDarussalam/Documents/A_HRC_WG.6_33_L_9_Brunei%20Dar ussalam_Draft%20Report.docx(accessedonMay20th2019). 76 United Nations Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, Independent Expert on protection againstviolenceanddiscriminationbasedonsexualorientationandgenderidentity,Special Rapporteurontortureandothercruel, inhumanordegradingtreatmentorpunishment,and SpecialRapporteuronviolence againstwomen, its causes andconsequences andWorking Grouponthe issueofdiscriminationagainstwomen in lawand inpractice, JointCommu- nicationof1April 2019, see: https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/SexualOrientation/ Legislation/OL_BRN_01.04.19.pdf (accessedonMay20th2019). 77 MinistryofForeignAffairsofBruneiDarussalam,Communication. The impactof religiononuniversalhumanrights inBrunei’sSyariahPenalCode 373 Open-Access-Publikation im Sinne der CC-Lizenz BY 4.0