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Jewish charities boycott The Dorchester Hotel over Brunei's anti-LGBT laws
The kingdom has introduced strict laws that make homosexual sex punishable by flogging or stoning to death
April 8, 2019 13:51
The kingdom has introduced strict laws that make homosexual sex punishable by flogging or stoning to death
April 8, 2019 13:51Jewish charities have said they will no longer hold fundraising dinners at the Brunei-owned The Dorchester Hotel and Park Lane, joining a growing boycott over the kingdom's new harsh anti-LGBT law.
Jewish Care was among the major communal organisations to say they will not use the hotels anymore after Brunei introduced strict Islamic laws that make homosexual sex punishable by flogging or stoning to death.
The Sultan’s family owns the Dorchester Collection which manages a number of luxury hotels around the world.
Jewish Care’s Young Patron group hosted its dinner at The Dorchester last month.
Adam Overlander-Kaye, Jewish Care’s director of fundraising and community engagement, said: "This will be the last event we host at this hotel, or any other hotel owned by the Sultan of Brunei, for the foreseeable future”.
The Holocaust Educational Trust, which held its fundraising dinner at The Dorchester last year, said: “As a charity promoting tolerance and fighting prejudice in all its forms, we are fundamentally at odds with the implementation of repressive and anti-egalitarian laws in Brunei, and we have no current plans to use the Dorchester Hotel.”
The charity made a similar announcement in 2014 when it decided to relocate its annual dinner from the Dorchester hotel.
Then, Brunei's ruler, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, had announced Sharia punishments which included the severing of limbs for theft and the death sentence for gay people and adulterers.
Magen David Adom UK, which raises money for Israel’ emergency service, has held events in The Dorchester twice since 2017.
A spokesperson said: "However, in light of the ongoing human rights issues in Brunei, which contradict our core humanitarian values as a member of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), we will be actively seeking an alternative venue for this year’s annual dinner in November as well as all future events."
UJIA, one of the Jewish community's leading Israel chrities, told the JC it does not currently have any bookings with either The Dorchester or 45 Park Lane.
A spokesperson said: “This is unlikely to change in the foreseeable future."
A spokesperson for Norwood said the chairty has not used either the Dorchester or 45 Park Lane for any of its events in the past 10 years and has no plans to do so in the future.
Supporters of the Brunei boycott include George Clooney and Ellen DeGeneres, both of whom are calling on the public to boycott the hotels owned by Brunei.
Calls for a boycott prompted the Dorchester Collection to deactivate its social media accounts, citing "personal abuse" directed at its employees.
Kosher caterer Tony Page said he has no plans to stop working at the hotel.
In a statement, he said: “I work alongside the management and any comment I have you would have to take directly from the hotel."
