Stars boycott Beverly Hills Hotel over Brunei 'sharia' law
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, the BBC reported.
Comedians Jay Leno and Ellen DeGeneres are among the celebrities supporting the boycott against the Beverly Hills Hotel and other hotels owned by Brunei.
Beverly Hills city council is to vote on a resolution condemning the laws.
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.
The mayor of Beverly Hills, Lili Bosse, 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.
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.
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."