Implementation of Brunei\u2019s criminal sharia code is planned in three phases, the first of which came into effect on 1 May 2014. No prosecutions have yet been brought under the new code and to date we assess the impact of the new code has been limited. However, a lack of clarity over implementation and intent has caused concern. We have urged the authorities in Brunei to consider the implementation of the new code carefully and ensure that it is in line with international human rights norms and Brunei\u2019s international obligations. UK Ministers have clearly set out our views to the most senior levels of the Bruneian government and will continue to do so.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3839", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Warsi"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Warsi"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-07-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-07-21T11:57:54.9273929Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-07-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Brunei"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the impact of the proposed Sharia penal code on human rights, women's rights and religious freedoms in Brunei.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1137", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Patten"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Patten"} ], "uin" : "HL928"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/76585", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/76585/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
I raised the introduction of a sharia penal code with His Majesty The Sultan, as well as the Crown Prince, Foreign Minister, the Grand Mufti and other senior ministers during my visit to Brunei on 19 April. The Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire), raised our concerns with Second Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Pehin Lim, on 12 June and again with Brunei's High Commissioner to London on 14 July. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Ministry of Justice, my hon. Friend the Member for North West Cambridgeshire (Mr Vara) also discussed the introduction of a sharia penal code with the Bruneian Attorney General at the Commonwealth Law Ministers' meeting on 6 May. The Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), raised concerns with his opposite number at a Commonwealth Health Ministers\u2019 meeting on 18 May.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3839", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Warsi"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Warsi"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-07-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-07-22T12:08:49.2284718Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-07-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Brunei"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government what representations they have made to the Sultan of Brunei concerning the proposed introduction of a Sharia penal code in that country.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1137", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Patten"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Patten"} ], "uin" : "HL929"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/76586", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/76586/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
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\u2019s international obligations. The UK is opposed to the use of the death penalty in all circumstances and in all countries.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3839", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Warsi"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Warsi"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-07-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-07-22T12:09:58.8887531Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-07-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Brunei"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government what discussions they have had with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations concerning the proposed Sharia penal code in Brunei.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1137", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Patten"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Patten"} ], "uin" : "HL930"} ], "itemsPerPage" : 10, "page" : 0, "startIndex" : 1, "totalResults" : 3, "type" : ["http://purl.org/linked-data/api/vocab#ListEndpoint", "http://purl.org/linked-data/api/vocab#Page"]} }