Brunei Boycott: Strategies To Take Action And Make Change

In 2019, Brunei introduced strict new laws that made gay sex and adultery punishable by stoning to death. This led to widespread boycotts of Brunei-owned businesses, particularly luxury hotels in the US and Europe. Celebrities, politicians, multinational banks, and other organizations joined the boycott to oppose the country's anti-LGBTQ+ laws and stand up for human rights. The boycott primarily targeted nine hotels owned by the Sultan of Brunei, including The Dorchester in London and the Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles.

Boycott Brunei-owned hotels

Brunei's new Islamic penal code, or Sharia law, has caused an uproar worldwide due to its harsh penalties for the LGBT+ community, women, and religious minorities. The law calls for death by stoning for same-sex relations and adultery, amputation for theft, and criminalises exposing Muslim children to non-Islamic religions. As a result, there have been calls to boycott Brunei-owned hotels, which are part of the Dorchester Collection, owned by the Brunei Investment Agency.

Celebrities, politicians, and human rights groups have led the calls for a boycott, arguing that staying at these hotels puts money directly into the pockets of the Brunei monarchy, who are responsible for these draconian laws. George Clooney, for example, wrote in a column:

> "Let's be clear, every single time we stay at or take meetings at or dine at any of these nine hotels we are putting money directly into the pockets of men who choose to stone and whip to death their own citizens for being gay or accused of adultery."

The Dorchester Collection includes nine of the most exclusive hotels in the world:

• The Dorchester, London
• 45 Park Lane, London
• Coworth Park, UK
• The Beverly Hills Hotel, Beverly Hills
• Hotel Bel-Air, Los Angeles
• Le Meurice, Paris
• Hotel Plaza Athenee, Paris
• Hotel Eden, Rome
• Hotel Principe di Savoia, Milan

Following the boycott calls, several of the hotels removed or made private their social media accounts due to personal abuse directed at employees. Local news reports also suggest that the Beverly Hills Hotel has lost millions of dollars in business due to the boycott. Additionally, some businesses have taken action, such as TV Choice magazine, which announced it would no longer hold its annual awards at The Dorchester Hotel.

Boycott airlines linked to Brunei

In 2019, Brunei introduced strict new laws that made gay sex and adultery punishable by stoning to death. This has triggered an outcry from countries, rights groups, and celebrities beyond the tiny southeast Asian nation's shores.

In response, celebrities including George Clooney, Elton John, and Ellen DeGeneres have called for a boycott of hotels owned by the Sultan of Brunei. Clooney, in particular, has urged people to boycott the nine hotels that are part of the Dorchester Collection, owned by the Brunei Investment Agency, an arm of the government. These include The Dorchester in London, the Beverly Hills Hotel and Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles, and the Hôtel Plaza Athénée in Paris.

In addition to boycotting these hotels, those looking to further support the boycott of Brunei may also choose to avoid flying with Royal Brunei Airlines, the flag carrier of Brunei, which is wholly owned by the Government of Brunei. The airline was formed in 1974 and now operates in 32 destinations across southeast Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and Oceania.

By avoiding travel with Royal Brunei Airlines, individuals can ensure that they are not directly contributing to the government of Brunei, which has implemented these strict laws that violate human rights and target vulnerable groups.

Boycott banks that do business with Brunei

In 2019, Brunei introduced strict new laws that made gay sex and adultery punishable by stoning to death. This led to a boycott of Brunei-owned businesses, particularly hotels, by celebrities and politicians. While a monarchy like Brunei is unlikely to be shamed by a boycott, you can shame the financial institutions that do business with them.

• J.P. Morgan: This bank has banned employees from staying at hotels owned by the Sultan of Brunei while traveling for business. You can choose to boycott this bank by not becoming a customer or ending your relationship with them if you are already a customer.
• Goldman Sachs: This bank has confirmed that they are no longer using the Dorchester Group, which is run by the Brunei state-owned investment agency. You can choose to boycott this bank by not becoming a customer or ending your relationship with them if their values do not align with yours.
• Deutsche Bank: Deutsche Bank was one of the first to announce its boycott of Brunei-owned properties in early April 2019 as a sign of support for LGBTQ+ rights. You can show your support for this bank's stance by considering them for your financial needs or continuing your relationship with them if you are already a customer.
• Bank of America: Bank of America has also confirmed that they are no longer using the Dorchester Group. You may consider moving your business to this bank to show your support for their decision.
• CitiGroup: CitiGroup has banned employees from staying at nine luxury hotels owned by Brunei. You can choose to support this decision by considering them for your banking needs.
• Morgan Stanley: This bank has banned staff from using hotels owned by Brunei, including the Dorchester in London and the Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles. You can choose to do business with this bank to show your support for their stance.
• Nomura: This bank has also banned employees from staying at Brunei-owned hotels. You may consider this bank for your financial needs to show your support for their decision.

By boycotting these banks that do business with Brunei, you can send a strong message that you do not support the country's extreme interpretation of Shariah law and the human rights violations it entails. It is important to remember that your financial choices can have a significant impact and that you can use them to stand up for what you believe in.

Boycott events held at Brunei-owned venues

In 2014, Brunei's adoption of Shariah as part of its penal code sparked international outrage. The new laws, which were to be introduced in phases, made abortion, adultery, and gay relationships punishable by flogging, stoning, and dismemberment. In response, celebrities, human rights groups, and politicians called for a boycott of Brunei-owned venues, particularly the Dorchester Collection, a group of luxury hotels owned by the Brunei Investment Agency, an arm of the Brunei government.

The Dorchester Collection includes nine of the most exclusive hotels in the world, such as The Dorchester in London, the Beverly Hills Hotel and Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles, Le Meurice and Hotel Plaza Athenee in Paris, and Hotel Eden in Rome. These hotels have long been favoured by Hollywood moguls and celebrities during awards season.

To boycott events held at Brunei-owned venues, you can follow these steps:

• Be Informed: Understand the issue at hand and the reasons for the boycott. In this case, it is the implementation of harsh and inhumane penalties for actions that should not be criminalized, such as abortion, gay relationships, and adultery.
• Spread Awareness: Use your platform, whether it be social media or personal interactions, to spread awareness about the issue and the boycott. You can share information, articles, and your thoughts on the matter to encourage others to join the boycott.
• Refrain from Patronizing Brunei-owned Venues: If you are an individual, you can choose to boycott events held at Brunei-owned venues by simply not attending them. Refrain from booking stays, meetings, or dining experiences at these hotels. Look for alternative venues that align with your values and do not contribute to human rights violations.
• Organize and Advocate: If you are part of an organization that usually holds events at these venues, advocate for moving your events to different locations. Join forces with other organizations to collectively boycott Brunei-owned venues and make a more significant impact.
• Support Alternative Venues: Instead of booking Brunei-owned venues for events, support alternative venues that are not associated with human rights violations. This not only helps to send a message to Brunei but also ensures that your money does not fund these violations.
• Engage with the Venues: If you are unsure about the affiliation of a particular venue, engage with them directly. You can inquire about their ownership and express your concerns about human rights. This can also help raise awareness among the venues themselves, encouraging them to reevaluate their affiliations and partnerships.

By boycotting events held at Brunei-owned venues, you are taking a stand against human rights violations and sending a clear message that you do not support the funding of these violations. It is important to remember that the impact of a boycott may not change the laws in Brunei, but it can bring attention to the issue and put pressure on the banks, financiers, and institutions that do business with the country.

Boycott companies that do business with Brunei

In 2019, Brunei introduced strict new laws that made gay sex and adultery punishable by stoning to death. This led to a boycott of Brunei-owned businesses, particularly nine hotels owned by the Sultan of Brunei, which included The Dorchester in London and the Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles.

• Avoid staying at or visiting the nine hotels owned by the Sultan of Brunei: These hotels are some of the most exclusive in the world and are part of the Dorchester Collection. They include The Dorchester in London, 45 Park Lane in London, Coworth Park in the UK, the Beverly Hills Hotel in Beverly Hills, Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles, Le Meurice in Paris, Hotel Plaza Athenee in Paris, Hotel Eden in Rome, and Hotel Principe di Savoia in Milan. By avoiding these hotels, you can ensure that you are not directly supporting the Brunei government and its anti-LGBTQ+ laws.
• Support companies that have joined the boycott: Some companies have actively joined the boycott of Brunei-owned businesses. For example, Deutsche Bank has banned its employees from using Dorchester hotels for company business. STA Travel, a global travel agency, has stopped selling flights on Royal Brunei Airlines. By supporting these companies and their decision to stand against Brunei's laws, you can send a strong message.
• Spread awareness and encourage others to join the boycott: Social media and other platforms can be powerful tools to spread awareness about the boycott and encourage others to join. Celebrities like George Clooney, Ellen DeGeneres, and Elton John have used their platforms to speak out against Brunei's laws and encourage their followers to boycott the aforementioned hotels. You can also contact companies that do business with Brunei and urge them to cut ties, as many individuals did with universities that had awarded honorary degrees to the Sultan of Brunei.
• Boycott other Brunei-owned businesses: In addition to the hotels, Brunei has other business ventures that you can choose to boycott. For example, Royal Brunei Airlines is the country's national carrier. By avoiding travel on this airline or any of its partners, you can further demonstrate your opposition to Brunei's anti-LGBTQ+ laws.
• Pressure companies doing business with Brunei to protect LGBTQ+ employees: Some companies, like the global oil company Shell, have a joint venture with the Brunei government. While they may not be able to directly influence Brunei's laws, they can be pressured to ensure that their LGBTQ+ employees are protected and that their values of inclusion and equality are upheld.

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