The Importance Of Human Rights In Oman

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Oman, the oldest independent Arab state, is known for its purebred Arab horses and its famously colorful and embroidered doors. Many tourists love it for its breathtaking beaches and enormous mountains; however, the citizen’s experience of Oman is quite different. In societies like those of The United States of America, Canada, or The United Kingdom, citizens do not know a world where they cannot speak, write, or tweet what they please, but that is not the case in Oman. Article 19 of The International Declaration of Human Rights describes the right to freedom of opinion and expression in all forms, as well as giving and receiving information through any outlet. Where limitations on speech and expression are high and censorship always at play, …show more content…

Article 29 of the Basic Statue of the State addresses the issue of opinion and expression. It is declared that the Law protects the freedom of opinion and expression, whether through speech, writing, or other means of expression. Despite the protection of speech under Article 29, the law prohibits many opinions to be spoken, such as the criticism of the sultan. The law states that any materials that cause public discord or abuses a person’s dignity or is harmful to a person’s safety is considered illegal. However, the courts in Oman take this law to mean that insulting a public official is illegal. Article 31 addresses press, printing, and publishing. It states that the freedom of press, printing, and publishing is protected by the Law. Despite this freedom, magazines and newspapers are expected to be consistent with government views and media presence in the country is limited and monitored by the government. The citizens are given internet access, but the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority monitors activity and any sites deemed pornographic, culturally or politically sensitive are to be blocked immediately. The government is not consistent with its criteria for banning sites; however they make sure to place warnings on web sites reminding viewers that criticism of the sultan or of government officials would lead to questioning. Despite laws seemingly put in place to protect citizen’s rights, officials see them as up for interpretation and often bend them to their own

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