Saeed al-Hashimi, Suleiman al-Maamari, Nabhan al-Hanashi, Hamoud Saud, Mohammed al-Fazari, Zaher al-Mahrouqi, and Abdulaziz Baraka, a writer from Sudan, are all authors whose books were banned.According to article 121 of the 2018 Omani penal code, participants in a public gathering of 10 individuals or more can be deemed liable to cause a breach of security or public order and can be imprisoned for up to one year and fined up to OR500 (US$1,300). The Wusta Region is situated to the south of both the Dakhiliya and Zahira Regions. Retirement … All rights reserved. Members of both bodies are appointed by the sultan. Sultan Qaboos has ruled the country since 1970, and at 76 is increasingly frail health – indeed he allegedly underwent cancer treatment in Germany in 2015. One can risk imprisonment of between three to 10 years for establishing an association, according to article 116, and one to three years if one joins an association that seeks to “to contest the political … principles of the State.” If an established religious association is deemed to “contest or harm” Islam, according to article 270, punishment includes three to seven years in prison.Protesters gathered in mid-January 2018 in Muscat urging the government to address the country’s high unemployment, and on January 29 protesters gathered in front of the Ministry of Manpower and its directorates in Muscat, Salalah, and Sur. The Consultative Council cannot initiate any legislation.During the elections in October 2007, none of the twenty female candidates were elected. There are no political parties.
The Governorate of Buraymi is situated in the north-west corner of the Sultanate, adjacent to the border with the United Arab Emirates. Protests in 2011 demanding reforms were dispersed by riot police, and the government began a crackdown on internet criticism the following year.Haitham bin Tariq Al Said succeeded to the throne on the death of his cousin, Qaboos Bin Said Al Said, in January 2020.Sultan Haitham was 65 on his accession, and the Oxford-educated veteran government official is expected to continue both his predecessor's neutral path in foreign affairs and his focus on economic and social reform.As head of Oman's Vision 2040 initiative, Sultan Haitham has been heavily involved in efforts to make the country less reliant on oil and gas exports for revenue.Qaboos Bin Said Al Said seized power from his ultra-conservative father Said Bin Taimur in 1970.Under his rule, oil revenues were used to develop the country's infrastructure, and he was able to facilitate secret talks between the United States and Iran in 2013 that led to the landmark nuclear deal two years later.Sultan Qaboos responded to the rare outbreak of discontent in 2011, following the wave of pro-democracy protests across the Arab world, by promising more jobs and benefits after initially suppressing demonstrations.The government operates the main broadcasters, and press freedom groups say that media censorship is widespread.The internet is a medium for public debate, but online activists can be targeted by the authorities, says Reporters Without Borders.The BBC is not responsible for the content of external Internet sitesHe resigns from the influential media company's board, citing "disagreements over editorial content".
Along with political reform issues, the question of succession has long been central to observers of Oman. It does not have a Constitution, but instead has a Basic Law or The Sultan is the Executive. Security forces arrested a number of those protesting; there were reports they were released.Article 17 of the Basic Law states that all citizens are equal and bans gender-based discrimination. The Legislative is formed by the bicameral In the judicial field, the civil courts are divided into four departments. Oman's on-average military spending as a percentage of GDP between 2016 and 2018 was around 10 percent, while the world's average during the same period was 2.2 percent. More information about Oman is available on the Oman Page and from other Department of State publications and other sources listed at the end of this fact sheet. It has become a crossing point for 90 percent of the Persian Gulf’s oil, which is shipped all over the world. On 26 May 1981, in Abu Dhabi the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Charter was signed by the heads of state of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
For permission requests, write to the publisher at social@omanobserver.om. Notwithstanding his robust rule, Oman under Sultan Qaboos was plagued with economic hardship and a closed political scene that led to various episodes of dissidence. on VW aims to sell 1.5m electric cars in China by 2025 on US auto sales fall in July as carmakers slash rental fleet sales on Muscat’s upscale diner goes local with authentic Omani spread on Häagen-Dazs opens first exclusive outlet in Oman If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Based on the Alexandria Protocol of 1944, the League of Arab States – commonly referred to as the Arab League – was founded in Cairo on 22 March 1945. It has a number of historic forts and houses.The Batina Region occupies a coastal strip along the Gulf of Oman. This program is funded by 5% contributions from employees and the government, and 8% contribution by employers.