Pictures: Beverly Hills Hotel protests over Brunei adopting Sharia Law

Comedians Ellen DeGeneres, Jay Leno and British entrepreneur Richard Branson have been the most prominent figures to advocate shunning the hotel and its bungalows, a favoured locale for the Hollywood elite since it opened a century ago. Frederic J. Brown / AFP

The resolution urges Brunei to divest its ownership of the hotel, and any other properties it owns within Beverly Hills, and condemns it and other countries that operate under Islamic criminal law. Frederic J. Brown / AFP

Jay Leno watches as his wife Mavis speaks as supporters of women’s rights groups protest across from the Beverly Hills Hotel. The US government has been largely silent on the issue until Tuesday, when the State Department told reporters the ambassador to Brunei had privately relayed concerns to the government there about the law. Frederic J. Brown / AFP

Civil rights activist Dolore Huerta speaks in support of women’s rights. Frederic J. Brown / AFP

In the last few days, organisations have cancelled events at the hotel, including the Motion Picture & Television Fund’s annual “Night Before the Oscars” charity event and the Feminist Majority Foundation’s annual Global Women’s Rights Awards. Jonathan Alcorn / Reuters

The Beverly Hills Hotel and nearby Hotel Bel-Air are part of the Dorchester Collection of luxury hotels that are owned by the Brunei Investment Agency, an arm of the Brunei government. Frederic J. Brown / AFP

People hold signs during a rally. Jonathan Alcorn / AFP

Christopher Cowdray, the chief executive of the London-based Dorchester Collection, said those protesting have ignored local hotels owned by countries with poor human rights records and that a boycott would ultimately hurt the local economy most. “There are other hotel companies in this city that are owned by Saudi Arabia ... you know, your shirt probably comes from a country which has human rights issues,” said Cowdray from Beverly Hills. Jonathan Alcorn / Reuters

Supporters of women’s rights groups pose with a placard during the protest. Frederic J. Brown / AFP

The City of Beverly Hills voted unanimously on Tuesday to pressure the government of Brunei to divest the Beverly Hills Hotel, the pink-hued haunt of the Hollywood set, after the country’s enactment of sharia law prompted protests.