Freedom in the World 2004 - Oman

Political Rights: 6
Civil Liberties: 5
Status: Not Free
Population: 2,600,000
GNI/Capita: $7,720
Life Expectancy: 73
Religious Groups: Ibadi Muslim (75 percent), other [including Sunni Muslim, Shia Muslim, and Hindu] (25 percent)
Ethnic Groups: Arab, Baluchi, South Asian, African
Capital: Muscat

Overview

Oman took a small step forward in opening up its political system in October 2003 by holding the first full election in its history, for its Consultative Council. Nevertheless, the Consultative Council, which is the lower chamber of the bicameral Council of Oman, has advisory rather than legislative powers.

Oman has been an independent nation since Sultan bin Seif's expulsion of the Portuguese in 1650, ending more than a century of Portuguese involvement in certain regions of Oman. After the expulsion of the Portuguese, the sultan conquered neighboring territories, building a small empire that included parts of the eastern coast of Africa and the southern Arabian Peninsula.

During the 1950s and 1960s, Oman experienced a period of internal unrest centered mostly on the interior regions of the country. In 1964, a group of separatists supported by Communist governments, such as the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen, or former South Yemen, started a revolt in Oman's Dhofar province. This insurgency was not completely quelled until the mid-1970s, with Oman's government receiving direct military support from its traditional ally the United Kingdom, as well as from Iran and Jordan.

The current ruler, Sultan Qaboos, came to power more than 30 years ago, after overthrowing his father, Sultan Said bin Taimur, who had ruled for nearly four decades. Sultan Qaboos launched a program to modernize Oman's infrastructure, educational system, governmental structure, and economy.

In 1991, Sultan Qaboos established the Consultative Council, or Majlis Ashshura, an appointed body aimed at providing the sultan with a wider range of opinions on ruling the country. The 1996 basic law, promulgated by a royal decree from Sultan Qaboos, transformed the Consultative Council into an elected body, but the right to vote in these elections was not granted to all citizens; only a limited number of citizens selected by tribal leaders were allowed to participate in the first elections. The basic law granted certain civil liberties, banned discrimination on the basis of sex, religion, ethnicity, and social class, and clarified the process for royal succession.

This limited political reform in the 1990s was overshadowed by a stronger effort to reform Oman's oil-dependent economy. In 1995, Sultan Qaboos spearheaded an effort to liberalize Oman's economy, reduce its dependence on oil exports, and attract international investments. In preparation for its eventual accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) as a full member in 2000, Oman lifted restrictions on foreign investment and ownership of enterprises in the country. In 2000, Oman launched its sixth five-year plan for the economy, which places emphasis on the "Omanization" of the labor force and job creation in the private sector, and more specific focus on Oman's interior regions, which continue to lag behind the coastal regions. Today, the petroleum sector contributes about 40 percent of Oman's gross domestic product, down from 70 percent in the 1980s.

In October 2003, Oman held the first full election in its history, for its 83-member Consultative Council. Though the powers of the Consultative Council remain limited, the election marked the first time that Oman gave the right to vote to all adult citizens, both men and women. Nearly three-quarters of registered voters participated in the election, which marks another modest step in introducing political reforms.

Political Rights and Civil Liberties

Citizens of Oman do not have the right to elect their country's leaders democratically. Citizens can express their views only in a very limited way, by electing members to the Consultative Council, which has no legislative powers and may only recommend changes to new laws. The Consultative Council is half of a bicameral body known as the Council of Oman; the other half, a 57-member State Council, is appointed by the sultan. The sultan has absolute power and issues laws by decree. Mechanisms for citizens to petition the government through local government officials exist, and certain citizens are afforded limited opportunities to petition the sultan in direct meetings. Political parties are banned by law, and no meaningful organized political opposition exists.

Freedom of expression and democratic debate is limited in Oman, with laws prohibiting criticism of the sultan. The government owns and controls all broadcast media outlets, which have the broadest reach to the Omani population. During 2003, the government allowed state television to broadcast sessions in which members of the Consultative Council questioned government ministers. As with other countries in the Arab world, the number of households with access to satellite television has increased, leading to an expansion in the diversity of sources of information. However, this information is mostly focused on regional issues. Oman's government permits private print publications, although many of these publications accept government subsidies and practice self-censorship. Omanis have access to the Internet through the national telecommunications company, and the government censors politically sensitive and pornographic content.

Islam is the state religion, and Sharia (Islamic law) is the source of all legislation, according to the basic law. Non-Muslims have the right to worship, although non-Muslim religious organizations must register with the government. The Ministry of Awqaf (Religious Charitable Bequests) and Religious Affairs distributes standardized texts for mosque sermons and expects imams to stay within the outlines of these texts. The government restricts academic freedom by preventing the publication of politically sensitive topics.

The basic law allows the formation of nongovernmental organizations, but civic and associational life remains quite limited in Oman. All public gatherings require government permission. In March 2003, police used moderate force to disperse public demonstrations against the war in Iraq. Oman has no labor or trade unions. In April 2003, the government issued a decree that removed a previous prohibition on strikes. Complaints related to labor and working conditions are managed by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor and mediated by the Labor Welfare Board.

Although the basic law states that the judiciary is independent, it remains subordinate to the sultan and the Ministry of Justice. Sharia courts are responsible for family law matters such as divorce and inheritance. In less populated areas, tribal laws and customs are frequently used to adjudicate disputes. According to the law, arbitrary arrest and detention are prohibited. In practice, the police are not required to obtain an arrest warrant in advance. Many of the civil liberties guarantees expressed in the basic law have not been implemented.

Oman currently has a population of approximately 2.6 million people, less than 2 million of whom are Omani citizens. Most noncitizens are immigrant workers. Foreign workers at times have been placed in situations amounting to forced labor, according to the U.S. State Department's human rights report for 2002, released in March 2003.

Although the basic law prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, women suffer from legal and social discrimination. Women must have the permission of a male relative to travel abroad. Women remain under-represented in political life in Oman, with only two women having won seats on the 83-member Consultative Council in the 2003 national elections.