Protesters in the US have called for a boycott of the famous Beverly Hills Hotel after its owner, the Sultan of Brunei, began the implementation of Sharia law.

US TV celebrity Jay Leno and his wife, joined women's and gay rights groups in calling for a boycott of the iconic hotel.

The strict Islamic law has a penal code, which includes punishments such as the severing of limbs for theft and death by stoning for adultery, sodomy and rape.

Most of the laws will also apply to non-Muslims and be rolled out over three years. 

The Beverly Hills Hotel and the Hotel Bel-Air are part of the Dorchester Collection of properties owned by the Brunei Investment Agency, an arm of the Brunei government.

The tiny state, on the island of Borneo, is ruled by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and has grown rich on oil and gas exports.

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