Brunei.

BRUNEI: CHRISTIANS FEAR NEW SHARIA LAW.

On 1 May, the tiny country of Brunei will start to implement full Sharia (Islamic law).

This country of just over 420,000 in south east Asia is an absolute monarchy, ruled by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah for almost 47 years. Previously Sharia was only used to regulate civil affairs such as personal and family issues. Now, it will be extended to cover criminal offences.

Full Sharia will be implemented in stages. Executions, corporal punishment and mutilations - including flogging for adultery, amputation of limbs for theft, and stoning to death for rape - will not be introduced for another year or two. But before that time laws for offences punishable by fines and imprisonment will be put in place.

The development has increased fear and anxiety amongst the Christian believers who make up 8.7 per cent of the population. Brunei is 24th in the World Watch List of the 50 countries where Christians are most oppressed. Church leaders are already heavily monitored by the government, but with the possibility of being charged under full Islamic law, the pressure will significantly increase.

Meanwhile, the spokesman for the UN High Commissioner for human rights said he was 'deeply concerned' about the move. Open Doors.