George Clooney calls for boycott of anti-gay Sultan's hotels

George Clooney has called for a boycott of the Sultan of Brunei’s hotels after the nation introduced new laws punishing gay sex by death.

From April 3, it will be a capital offence for Muslims in the sultanate to engage in either adultery or gay sex, with the punishment being either stoning or whipping to death.

Clooney is calling for the boycott of the many hotels owned by the Sultan – who is one of the world’s richest men.

The Sultan’s international portfolio of hotels includes The Dorchester in London, The Bel-Air and Beverly Hills hotels in Los Angeles and hotels in the London, Paris and Rome.

In an open letter published on Deadline, Clooney said of Brunei’s impending law change: “In the onslaught of news where we see the world backsliding into authoritarianism this stands alone.”

The actor, and husband of human-rights lawyer Amal Clooney, admits to having stayed at the Sultan’s hotels in the past, saying: “I hadn’t done my homework and didn’t know who owned them”.

“They’re nice hotels. The people who work there are kind and helpful and have no part in the ownership of these properties,” he goes on.

He says despite this, it’s time to hold the men behind the curtain accountable.

He argues any transactions with the hotels would put money straight into the hands of men who he says “choose to stone and whip to death their own citizens for being gay or accused of adultery.”

He admits a boycott would be unlikely to have an impact on the laws directly, but insists it’s the only ethical option.

“… are we really going to help pay for these human rights violations? Are we really going to help fund the murder of innocent citizens?” the Oscar-winner asked.

“I’ve learned over years of dealing with murderous regimes that you can’t shame them. But you can shame the banks, the financiers and the institutions that do business with them and choose to look the other way.”

A seperate boycott of the hotel group was called for in 2014, when the Sultan began plans for a three-year introduction of the more radical aspects of Sharia law.

The likes of Ellen DeGeneres and Sir Richard Branson were vocal supporters of the boycott, while the Beverly Hills City Council urged the Sultan to sell the hotel.

According to reports, that boycott resulted in more than $2 million worth of bookings at the hotel to be cancelled.

Amnesty International has called for Brunei to ‘immediately halt’ the new penalties.

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