My Experience Facing a Sharia Court Case in Brunei Over One Can of Beer
I would like to share a little about my situation. I am from Brunei, a 20 year old male. I was born Muslim, but I have not practiced Islam for almost 10 years. I do not believe in the existence of God. Over time, I quietly converted to Buddhism without telling anyone.
Last March, I traveled to Thailand alone for a one month vacation. It was my fifth time visiting the country. When my trip ended and I was returning to Brunei, I bought a single can of beer in Thailand and intended to bring it home with me.
At the airport, I was stopped and inspected by customs officers and the narcotics bureau. They found the beer and questioned me about it. I replied, “Isn’t it allowed to bring beer into Brunei as long as it does not exceed 10 cans? I only have one can.”
The officer then checked my passport and saw that my religion was listed as Islam. He immediately became angry and told me that, as a Muslim, it was forbidden for me to drink or possess beer and that I could face legal action under the Sharia law.
I then politely asked, “If Muslims are not allowed to bring alcohol, how can I leave Islam?” The customs officer replied that if the Ministry of Religious Affairs heard me speaking like that, I could face imprisonment or even the death penalty.
In the end, I cooperated fully. Honestly, I did not know that bringing alcohol into the country was prohibited for Muslims. I believed that it was allowed as long as the amount did not exceed the limit of 10 cans. It turned out that only non-Muslims are permitted to bring alcohol within that limit.
After the beer was discovered, I was taken for a urine test to determine whether I had used drugs while in Thailand. In Brunei, a person can face legal consequences, including imprisonment, for drug use whether it occurs inside or outside the country. Fortunately, I have never used any kind of drugs, either abroad or in Brunei, and my test result came back negative.
My passport was then confiscated. A few days later, I was required to visit customs to provide a statement and undergo an investigation. The case was treated as a legal offense. About a month later, I was summoned to the Sharia Court to give the same statement again. I am now waiting to be called back to appear before a judge.
To be honest, this situation makes me feel quite sad. I consider myself a Buddhist, but if I want to practice my beliefs, I only feel safe doing so outside my country because apostasy in Brunei can carry legal consequences. As a result, I have to keep my beliefs hidden from everyone, including my family, who are still Muslim.
Even though I quietly changed my religion, that does not mean I am a bad person. I still respect other people and always try to do good whenever I can, even if only in small ways.😊