Bloomberg reported that organizers of nine entertainment industry-related events has postponed plans of hosting their activities at the Beverly Hills Hotel and the Hotel Bel-Air in protest over the recent enactment of the Brunei sultanate's law that punishes people who committed rape, adultery and sodomy to death. Both properties are owned by the Brunei Investment Agency, a sultanate-owned corporation under the Ministry of Finance of the Government of Brunei.
Last week, the controversial Islamic criminal law had taken effect, which will put guilty individuals to death by stoning for the abovementioned crimes. The penal code has been reportedly criticized by the United Nations, and claimed that certain provisions violated the rights to freedom of religion, opinion and expression.
The entertainment industry in the US is also not happy with the recent law. According to spokesperson Andy Gelb, the Motion Picture & Television Fund could move its Night Before the Oscars fundraiser, which would have happened on schedule at the Beverly Hills Hotel if the law has not been changed.
In a joint statement, fund Chairman Bob Pisano, Vice Chairman Mark Fleischer, and CEO Bob Beitcher said, "We cannot condone or tolerate these harsh and repressive laws and as a result support a business owned by the Sultan of Brunei or a Brunei sovereign fund associated with the government of Brunei."
The Feminist Majority Foundation's Global Women's Rights Awards would have happened at the Beverly Hills Hotel if not for the Islamic criminal law, Bloomberg said. Former "Tonight Show" host Jay Leno and his wife, Mavis are co-chairmen of the awards, the news agency noted.
Dorchester Collection Chief Executive Officer Christopher Cowdray, whose company's collection of luxury hotels include the Southern California properties, said in an interview yesterday, "We have a truly global economy today. Look at all the foreign investments in hotels and real estate. Our hotels are autonomously run and in that way not tied to Brunei. Religious or political views have no place in our organization."
