Hassanal Bolkiah, the Sultan of Brunei, issued a royal decree stripping royal titles from his daughter-in-law Pengiran Raabi’atul Adawiyyah, according to an announcement from the Office of the Grand Chamberlain published by the New Straits Times. Raabi’atul, 33, is married to Prince Abdul Malik, the fourth-in-line to the throne and the second son of the Sultan and Queen Saleha.
Royal Decree and Revocation Details
According to the Office of the Grand Chamberlain reported by the New Straits Times, the revocation occurred because Raabi’atul’s conduct was deemed unbecoming for the spouse of a royal family member. Officials stated that her actions tarnished the monarchy’s good name and demonstrated a lack of respect toward Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah. Specific details regarding what she did remain undisclosed.
Raabi’atul and Prince Abdul Malik married in 2015 and share four children. Reports indicate that the children’s titles will reportedly remain unaffected by the decree. Unlike previous instances where the Sultan stripped titles from his second two wives following divorces, no divorce has been announced between Prince Abdul Malik and Raabi’atul.
Brunei’s Monarchy and Legal Framework
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah serves as the world’s longest-reigning monarch, taking the throne in 1967 and turning 80 in July. The Sultan oversees a 12-child family from three marriages, maintaining his first marriage to Queen Saleha, the mother of Prince Abdul Malik and five other children. Under his rule, Brunei introduced strict Sharia law provisions in 2014, followed by a 2019 penal code making same-sex relationships punishable by stoning to death, which the Sultan defended as a version of Islamic teachings.
Did you know? Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah turned 80 in July and is currently the world’s longest-reigning monarch, having been on the throne since 1967. While a moratorium on capital punishment for LGBT offenses was extended, the underlying penal code and imprisonment risks for LGBT citizens remain active.
Legal Defenses and Moratoriums
Following international backlash over the 2019 penal code, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah extended a moratorium on capital punishment while standing by the legislation itself. According to the Sultan, both common law and Syariah law serve to ensure peace, harmony, and public morality while respecting individual privacy. Despite the moratorium on stoning, LGBT citizens in Brunei still face potential imprisonment under the unchanged penal code.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who is Pengiran Raabi’atul Adawiyyah?
A: Raabi’atul Adawiyyah is the wife of Brunei’s Prince Abdul Malik. She married into the royal family in 2015 and shares four children with the prince.
Q: Why were her titles removed?
A: According to the Office of the Grand Chamberlain cited by the New Straits Times, her conduct was deemed unbecoming of a royal spouse, lacking respect for the Sultan and tarnishing the monarchy’s reputation.
Q: Are the children’s titles affected?
A: No, reports indicate that the titles of the four children belonging to Prince Abdul Malik and Raabi’atul will reportedly remain unaffected by the royal decree.
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