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| Stars boycott Beverly Hills Hotel over Brunei 'sharia' law | Stars boycott Beverly Hills Hotel over Brunei 'sharia' law |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Stars of Hollywood are boycotting one of the area's most famous hotels because of a harsh Islamic penal code introduced by Brunei's government. | |
| Comedians Jay Leno and Ellen DeGeneres are among the celebrities supporting the boycott against the Beverly Hills Hotel and other hotels owned by Brunei. | Comedians Jay Leno and Ellen DeGeneres are among the celebrities supporting the boycott against the Beverly Hills Hotel and other hotels owned by Brunei. |
| Brunei's leader, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, announced the first phase of the new penalties last week. | Brunei's leader, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, announced the first phase of the new penalties last week. |
| They will eventually include death by stoning for homosexuality and adultery. | They will eventually include death by stoning for homosexuality and adultery. |
| The mayor of Beverly Hills has also urged the city to adopt a resolution condemning Brunei's new laws and divesting the country from the hotel and others it owns through the Dorchester Collection chain. | The mayor of Beverly Hills has also urged the city to adopt a resolution condemning Brunei's new laws and divesting the country from the hotel and others it owns through the Dorchester Collection chain. |
| The city is set to vote on the measure on Tuesday. | The city is set to vote on the measure on Tuesday. |
| And Virgin group founder Richard Branson tweeted on Saturday his employees and family would not stay at the luxury hotel chain "until the Sultan abides by basic human rights". | And Virgin group founder Richard Branson tweeted on Saturday his employees and family would not stay at the luxury hotel chain "until the Sultan abides by basic human rights". |
| Several organisations have cancelled events at the hotel, long a gathering place for Hollywood celebrities, including the Motion Picture & Television Fund's annual Night Before the Oscars charity event and the Feminist Majority Foundation's annual Global Women's Rights Awards. | Several organisations have cancelled events at the hotel, long a gathering place for Hollywood celebrities, including the Motion Picture & Television Fund's annual Night Before the Oscars charity event and the Feminist Majority Foundation's annual Global Women's Rights Awards. |
| During a small protest in front of the hotel on Monday, Mr Leno said: "I'd like to think that all people are basically good and when they realise this is going on, hopefully they'll do something about it." | During a small protest in front of the hotel on Monday, Mr Leno said: "I'd like to think that all people are basically good and when they realise this is going on, hopefully they'll do something about it." |
| But Christopher Cowdray, the chief executive of the Dorchester Collection chain, said those protesting have ignored local hotels owned by countries with poor human rights records. | But Christopher Cowdray, the chief executive of the Dorchester Collection chain, said those protesting have ignored local hotels owned by countries with poor human rights records. |
| "There are other hotel companies in this city that are owned by Saudi Arabia... you know, your shirt probably comes from a country which has human rights issues," Mr Cowdray said, adding a boycott would hurt local employees the most. | "There are other hotel companies in this city that are owned by Saudi Arabia... you know, your shirt probably comes from a country which has human rights issues," Mr Cowdray said, adding a boycott would hurt local employees the most. |
| The US government has been largely quiet on the change to Brunei's penal code, but the State Department said on Tuesday it had privately relayed concerns to the Brunei government. | The US government has been largely quiet on the change to Brunei's penal code, but the State Department said on Tuesday it had privately relayed concerns to the Brunei government. |
| The tiny state, on the island of Borneo has grown rich on oil and gas exports. | The tiny state, on the island of Borneo has grown rich on oil and gas exports. |
| Almost three-quarters of those who live there are Malay Muslims, but there are sizeable Buddhist and Christian communities. | Almost three-quarters of those who live there are Malay Muslims, but there are sizeable Buddhist and Christian communities. |