I’m far from a #Brunei expert/reporter (ping @ainbandial @tashny) but I’m seeing international media report the sultan’s announcement about the moratorium of the #deathpenalty as a “dramatic U-turn” and… that doesn’t seem quite right.

@ainbandial @tashny The truth is that #Brunei has been listed as "de facto abolitionist” when it comes to the #deathpenalty, which means that, while capital punishment is still in law, it hasn’t actually been practised (i.e. no executions) for at least 10 years.

@ainbandial @tashny While I find it interesting the sultan felt the need to come out and reiterate the moratorium—and do think that international pressure had something to do with it—calling it a “u-turn” obscures the fact that not carrying out executions isn’t a new thing, but long established.

@ainbandial @tashny This just seems to back up what many Bruneians have been saying: that, while horrific and deserving of condemnation, the whole “stoning to death” thing in the SPC is likely symbolic and political play, rather than a true desire to start stoning people to death again.

@ainbandial @tashny Another thing I was told by Bruneian friends: that sections of the SPC that curb freedom of expression might be more likely enforced than the outrageous anti-LGBT section—but of course the idea of stoning is far more likely to capture the attention of the press.