While the civilised world looks on in horror the Sultan of Brunei proclaims that homosexuals can be stoned. The cries of outrage and calls for a boycott resound. I share the outrage, but why just Brunei and why just homosexuals? Other countries have such terrible punishments and other countries persecute other minorities, yet we carry on trading and shelling out aid regardless.
Specifically, we direct bucketloads of aid towards countries which persecute Christians and indeed other religious minorities, without making any attempt to attach conditions. We did not exactly rush forward to offer a safe haven to Asia Bibi, but I suppose a country which is sufficiently lacking in conscience that it abandons Afghan interpreters is never going to worry about what is happening to helpless Christians, whose cries of agony are too far away to trouble the ears of MPs in the bars and eateries of the House of Commons.
