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<p>As a close friend of Brunei we have raised our concerns on the implementation of
a Sharia penal code in Brunei directly with them and will continue those discussions
bilaterally. We have not raised the issue with the Association of South East Asian
Nations. I discussed the Sharia code with His Majesty The Sultan, as well as the Crown
Prince, Foreign Minister, the Grand Mufti and other senior ministers during my recent
visit to Brunei on 19 April, and more recently with Second Minister for Foreign Affairs
and Trade, Pehin Lim, on 9 July. The Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth
Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for East Devon ( Mr Swire), also raised the
issue in his meeting with Brunei's High Commissioner to London on 14 July. We urge
the authorities in Brunei to consider the impact of the new code very carefully, and
specifically ensure implementation is in line with international human rights norms
and Brunei’s international obligations. The UK is opposed to the use of the death
penalty in all circumstances and in all countries.</p><p> </p>
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