Someone made a choice in the Sultan’s Palace in Bandar Seri Begawan that was heard quietly in the royal-watching circles and the diplomatic corridors. At age 80, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, who was still very much in charge of Brunei, took away his daughter-in-law Raabi’atul Adawiyyah’s royal titles thru a royal decree. There was no further explanation. She only got a formal letter telling her that what she did was “unbecoming” and had “harmed the monarchy’s good name.”” That’s it. That was all that people outside the palace walls were given.
She is 33 years old and has been married to Prince Abdul Malik since 2015. Malik is the second son of the Sultan and the fourth person in line to become king. The couple has four kids together, but their names haven’t been changed yet. It’s hard to tell if that detail is a gesture of kindness or just a necessary step in the process. When the palace decides when to share information with the outside world, reading between the lines is almost a national skill.
As I watch this happen from the outside, I get the sense that the story is still not finished. There have been rumors that the couple is getting a divorce, but nothing official has been said. It’s true that the Sultan has been thru divorce twice. After he divorced his second and third wives, the titles were taken away from both of them. But things are different now. There is still no divorce official. The title was taken while the marriage is still legal.
It’s important to take a moment to think about who Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah really is, since most people in the West only know bits and pieces about him. He has been king since 1967, longer than any other king or queen in history. This year, he turns 80, and Brunei’s national celebrations, which tend to be fancy, are held to honor him. He is a very wealthy person with a lot of political power and, depending on your point of view, a lot of controversy.
Brunei put Sharia law into place in 2014. The Sultan said in 2019 that same-sex relationships would be illegal and would be punished by being stoned to death. He said this was in line with Islamic teachings. The backlash around the world was quick and loud. Hotels with ties to his family were not allowed to serve him. Famous people said things. After a month, he extended a ban on the death penalty, which made the news less harsh without changing the law. People who are LGBT in Brunei can still be jailed. The part about stoning has not been taken away. It’s just stopped.
He has three wives and twelve children. Six of them are with his first wife, Saleha, who is also his first cousin and is still queen. One of them is Prince Abdul Malik, whose wife lost her royal title not long ago. The other two are Crown Prince and Heir Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah. His daughters, in particular, are not allowed to take over because they are women. These rules are followed by the royal family all the time.
Something quietly telling about how power works in Brunei stands out. Official decrees and formal statements are how the palace talks to people. It’s announced by the Grand Chamberlain. The news media report what is said. What Raabi’atul said, what she did, who she hurt, and how, are the only things that can be used to explain what happened. It’s possible that the whole story will come out at some point. It’s also possible that it won’t.
