Jewish groups boycotting The Dorchester over Brunei anti-LGBT law

Jewish Care will no longer be hosting events at The Dorchester Hotel for the foreseeable future, as calls to boycott the venue grow over Brunei’s anti-LGBT law.

The Jewish charity said it would be boycotting the venue and any other hotels owned by the Sultan of Brunei for future events. 

This comes after Brunei adopted a new law punishing homosexual sex and women charged with adultery with death by stoning.

The new law prompted a campaign led by George Clooney and Elton John for a boycott of the Brunei Sultan’s hotels, including The Dorchester.

Jewish Care’s director of fundraising and community engagement Adam Overlander-Kaye said: “Last month Jewish Care hosted their annual Young Jewish Care’s Patron’s dinner at the Dorchester.

“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”.

Magen David Adom UK said it would actively seek alternative venues to The Dorchester for their annual dinner in November due to concerns over human rights in Brunei.

A spokesperson for Magen David Adom UK confirmed it had held events in The Dorchester twice since 2017.

But he added: “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.

“We will be actively seeking an alternative venue for this year’s annual dinner in November as well as all future events.”

A Holocaust Educational Trust spokesperson confirmed the organisation had no current plans to host events at the Dorchester Hotel.

The spokesperson 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.”