Oman
(2000)
Islam is the state religion, and the Basic Charter
preserves the freedom to practice religious rites, in accordance with
tradition, provided that it does not breach public order. The Government
permits freedom of worship for non-Muslim residents.
There was no change in the status of respect for
religious freedom during the period covered by this report.
Christian and Hindu worship is permitted, and Sultan
Qaboos has given land for the construction of centers of worship for these
religions. However, it is illegal to proselytize Muslims to abandon Islam.
Islam is an integral part of the scholastic curriculum; however, non-Muslim
students attending private schools are not required to study Islam.
The U.S. Embassy discusses religious freedom issues with
the Government in the overall context of the promotion of human rights.
Section I. Government Policies on Freedom of Religion
Legal/Policy Framework
Islam is the state religion, which is affirmed by the
1996 Basic Charter. The 1996 Basic Charter provides that Shari'a (Islamic
law) is the basis for legislation and preserves the freedom to practice
religious rites, in accordance with tradition, provided that it does not
breach public order. The Government permits freedom of worship for
non-Muslims as well.
Non-Muslim religious organizations must be registered
with the Government, and the Government restricts some of their activities.
Religious Demography
Most citizens are Ibadhi or Sunni Muslims, but there is
also a minority of Shi'a Muslims. There is a small community of ethnically
Indian Hindu citizens, and there is reportedly a very small number of
Christians, who were originally from India or the Levant, and who have been
naturalized.
Non-Muslims, the majority of whom are noncitizen
immigrant workers from South Asia, are free to worship at churches and
temples, some of which are built on land donated by the Sultan. There are
many Christian denominations in Muscat, which use two plots of donated
land. Two Catholic and two Protestant churches have been built on this
land. Hindu temples also have been built on government-provided land. The
Government also provided land for Catholic and Protestant missions in Sohar
and Salalah.
Governmental Restrictions on Freedom of Religion
Citizen children must attend a school that provides
instruction in Islam; noncitizen children may attend schools that do not
offer instruction in Islam.
Citizens and noncitizen residents are free to discuss
their religious beliefs; however, the Government prohibits non-Muslims from
proselytizing Muslims. Under Islamic law, a Muslim who recants belief in
Islam would be considered an apostate and dealt with under applicable
Islamic legal procedure. Non-Muslims are permitted to change their
religious affiliation to Islam.
In June 2000, the departure from the country of a
foreign Baha'i due to termination of his employment may have been hastened
by the proselytizing activities of his wife. The authorities asked members
of the Baha'i community not to proselytize, in accordance with the
country's law and custom.
The Government prohibits non-Muslim groups from
publishing religious material, although material printed abroad may be
brought into the country. Members of all religions and religious groups are
free to maintain links with coreligionists abroad and undertake foreign
travel for religious purposes. Ministers and priests from abroad also are
permitted to visit the country for the purpose of carrying out duties
related to registered religious organizations.
The police monitor mosque sermons to ensure that the
preachers do not discuss political topics and stay within the
state-approved orthodoxy of Islam. The Government expects all imams to
preach sermons within the parameters of standardized texts distributed
monthly by the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs.
The Government has sponsored forums at which differing
interpretations of Islam have been examined; there are no known instances
during the period covered by this report where the Government has publicly
promoted interfaith dialog.
There was no change in the status of respect for
religious freedom during the period covered by this report.
There were no reports of religious detainees or
prisoners.
Forced Religious Conversion of Minor U.S. Citizens
There were no reports of the forced religious conversion
of minor U.S. citizens who had been abducted or illegally removed from the
United States, or of the Government's refusal to allow such citizens to be
returned to the United States.
Section II. Societal Attitudes
There are amicable relations between the various
religious communities. Christian theologians have met with local Islamic
authorities and with members of the faculty at the country's major
university. Private groups that promote interfaith dialog are permitted to
exist as long as discussions do not constitute an attempt to cause Muslims
to recant their Islamic beliefs.
The Basic Charter provides that discrimination against
individuals on the basis of religion or religious group is prohibited;
however, decrees implementing the prohibition against religious
discrimination have not yet been established.
Religious discrimination is largely absent; however,
some members of the Shi'a minority claim that they face discrimination in
employment and educational opportunities. Nonetheless, some Shi'a occupy
prominent positions in both the private and public sectors.
Section III. U.S. Government Policy
The U.S. Embassy discusses religious freedom issues with
the Government in the overall context of the promotion of human rights.
Members of the staff at the U.S. Embassy routinely participate in local
religious ceremonies, and have contact with non-Muslim practitioners.
Sources: U.S. State Department - Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor |