Oman
(2004)
The Constitution or the Basic Statute of the State provides for the
freedom to practice religious rites, in accordance with tradition, if
their practices do not breach public order, and the Government generally
respects this right in practice; however, there are some restrictions.
The Basic Statute declares that Islam is the State religion and that
Shari'a is the source of all legislation.
There was no change in the status of respect for religious freedom
during the period covered by this report, and government policy continued
to contribute to the generally free practice of religion. Non-Muslim
religious worship is permitted, and Sultan Qaboos Al Bu Sa'id, the Monarch
of the country, has given land for the construction of Hindu and Christian
centers of worship.
The generally amicable relationship among religions in society contributed
to religious freedom.
The U.S. Government discusses religious freedom issues with the Government
as part of its overall policy to promote human rights.
Section I. Religious Demography
The country's total area is 119,498 square miles, and its population
is 2.33 million, of whom 1.8 million are citizens, according to the
December 2003 national census. While no official statistics are kept
on religious affiliation, most citizens are Ibadhi or Sunni Muslims.
There also is a minority of Shi'a Muslims, particularly concentrated
in Muscat's Muttrah area. There is a small community of ethnically Indian
Hindu citizens and reportedly a very small number of Christian citizens
who came from India or the Levant and who have been naturalized.
The majority of non-Muslims are noncitizen immigrant workers from South
Asia. There are a number of Christian denominations represented in the
country.
While there is no information regarding missionary groups in the country,
several faith-based organizations operate. Clergy of the Anglican Church,
the Reformed Church of America, and other Protestant, Catholic, and
Orthodox groups are present in the country.
Section II. Status of Religious Freedom
Legal/Policy Framework
The Constitution or the Basic Statute of the State provides for the
freedom to practice religious rites, in accordance with tradition, if
their practices do not breach public order, and the Government generally
respects this right in practice; however, there are some restrictions.
The Basic Statute declares that Islam is the State religion and that
Shari'a is the source of all legislation. Within these parameters, the
Government permits freedom of worship for non-Muslims. The Basic Statute
prohibits discrimination against individuals on the basis of religion
or religious group. Some non-Muslims worship at churches and temples
built on land donated by the Sultan, including two Catholic and two
Protestant church complexes. Hindu temples also have been built on government-provided
land. In addition the Government provided land for Catholic and Protestant
churches in Sohar and Salalah. Adherents of other religious faiths,
typically among expatriate residents, practice their rites in less formal
facilities, such as at company labor camps.
Non-Muslim religious organizations must be registered with the Ministry
of Awqaf and Religious Affairs, and the Government restricts some of
their activities. The criterion for registration is opaque. One non-Muslim
religious organization present in the country for several decades has
had its application for formal registration pending at the Ministry
for several years. Anecdotal evidence suggests that visiting non-Muslim
organizations are permitted to operate within legal boundaries if a
registered entity agrees to sponsor them with the Ministry of Awqaf
and Religious Affairs.
The Government has sponsored forums at which differing interpretations
of Islam have been examined, and interfaith, government-sponsored dialogue
takes place on a regular basis. During the period of this report, the
Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs hosted several Christian and
Muslim scholars and lecturers of various schools of thought to discuss
interfaith relations and the tolerance of Islam. In March the Sultanate
also hosted the Organization of the Islamic Conference's 15th meeting
of the Council of Islamic Fiqh (Jurisprudence). In September 2003, the
Grand Mufti participated in a conference in Bahrain on "Rapprochement
Between Islamic Sects" and in December 2003 he participated in
a conference in Sudan on "Islam and the West in a Changing World."
The following religious holidays are considered national holidays:
Eid al Adha, Islamic (Hijra) New Year, Birth of the Prophet, Ascension
Day, and Eid al Fitr.
Restrictions on Religious Freedom
Citizens and noncitizen residents are free to discuss their religious
beliefs; however, the Government prohibits non-Muslims from proselytizing
Muslims. The Basic Statute does not specifically prohibit proselytizing,
nor does any other law; however, in practice the Government uses immigration
regulations and laws concerning morals against individuals deemed as
being engaged in proselytizing.
Under Islamic law, a Muslim who recants belief in Islam would be considered
an apostate and dealt with under applicable Islamic legal procedure.
During the period covered by this report, there were no cases of to
being punished for conversion. Non-Muslims are permitted to change their
religious affiliation to Islam and proselytizing non-Muslims by Muslims
is allowed. The authorities reportedly have asked members of the Baha'i
community not to proselytize, in accordance with the country's law and
custom. The Government records religious affiliation on national identity
smart-cards for citizens, and on residency smart-cards for noncitizens.
While religious affiliation was previously recorded on citizen passports,
current citizen passports no longer contain this information.
The Government prohibits non-Muslim groups from publishing religious
material, although non-Muslim religious 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 to
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.
In April, the Jacobite Bishop of Syria attended Passion Week rites in
the capital.
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 monitors sermons at mosques to ensure
that the imams do not discuss political topics and stay within the state-approved
orthodoxy of Islam. During the period covered by this report, there
were credible reports of a number of imams being suspended for overstepping
government boundaries. One suspension occurred after an imam delivered
a sermon about Islam's emphasis on the accountability of rulers to the
people. The Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs inaugurated a new
web site whereby questions on issues of the practice of faith and worship
can be answered by the Grand Mufti or his representatives.
Some aspects of Islamic law and tradition as practiced in the country
discriminate against women. Shari'a favors male heirs in adjudicating
inheritance claims. While there is continuing reluctance to take an
inheritance dispute to court for fear of alienating the family, women
increasingly are aware of and taking steps to protect and exercise their
rights as citizens.
Citizen children must attend schools that provide instruction in Islam;
noncitizen children may attend schools that do not offer instruction
in Islam. Instruction in Islam is a component of the basic curriculum
in all public school grades K-12. The curriculum focuses on the Koran
and Hadith, on the life of the Prophet Mohammed and his companions,
and on the five pillars of the Islamic faith. In light of the Islamic
diversity in society, the curriculum is designed not to emphasize any
particular school of Islamic thought over any other.
There were no reports of religious prisoners or detainees.
Forced Religious Conversion
There were no reports of forced religious conversion, including of
minor U.S. citizens who had been abducted or illegally removed from
the United States, or of the refusal to allow such citizens to be returned
to the United States.
Abuses by Terrorist Organizations
There were no reported abuses targeted at specific religions by terrorist
organizations during the period covered by this report.
Section III. Societal Attitudes
The generally amicable relationship among religions in society contributed
to religious freedom. Religious discrimination in the private sector
is largely absent. 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 dialogue are permitted to exist
as long as discussions do not constitute an attempt to cause Muslims
to recant their Islamic beliefs. Societal attitudes toward proselytizing
and conversion generally are negative.
Section IV. U.S. Government Policy
The U.S. Government discusses religious freedom issues with the Government
as part of its overall policy to promote human rights. Members of the
staff at the U.S. Embassy freely participate in local religious ceremonies
and have contact with members of non-Muslim religious groups. During
the period covered by this report, the Embassy sponsored the visit of
a U.S. research specialist in the field of Islamic studies, who addressed
audiences (including at the Sultan's Grand Mosque) on Islamic collections
in the United States. The Dean of the Country's College of Shari'a and
Law participated in an exchange visit to the United States focused on
the rule of law.
Sources: U.S. State Department - Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor |