government: absolute monarchy or sultanate

state of civil and political rights: Not free

constitution: 29 September 1959

legal system: mixed legal system based on English common law and Islamic law; note - in May 2014, the first of three phases of sharia-based penal codes was instituted, which applies to Muslims and non-Muslims and exists in parallel to the existing common law-based code

legislative system: Legislative Council met on 25 September 2004 for first time in 20 years with 21 members appointed by the Sultan; passed constitutional amendments calling for a 45-seat council with 15 elected members; Sultan dissolved council on 1 September 2005 and appointed a new council with 29 members as of 2 September 2005; council met in March 2006 and in March 2007

judicial system: Supreme Court, chief justice and judges are sworn in by the monarch for three-year terms; Judicial Committee of Privy Council in London is final court of appeal for civil cases; Sharia courts deal with Islamic laws

religion: 67% Muslim; 13% Buddhist; 10% Christian; 10% others

death row: 6 (www.deathpenaltyworldwide.org)

year of last executions: 0-0-0

death sentences: 0

executions: 0