Editing Oman (section)

===Legal system===
Oman is an [[absolute monarchy]], with the Sultan's word having the force of law. The judiciary branch is subordinate to the Sultan. According to Oman's constitution, [[Sharia law]] is one of the sources of legislation. Sharia court departments within the civil court system are responsible for family-law matters, such as divorce and inheritance.

While ultimate power is concentrated in the Sultan<ref name="rule" /> and Oman does not have an official [[separation of powers]],<ref name=rule>{{cite web|title=Country Report: Oman|url=http://www.bti-project.org/en/reports/country-reports/detail/itc/OMN/|year=2016|publisher=BTI Project|access-date=19 August 2016|archive-date=12 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200312141230/https://www.bti-project.org/en/reports/country-reports/detail/itc/OMN/|url-status=dead}}</ref> the late Sultan Qaboos declined to grant the full title Minister of Defence, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Finance to the ministers exercising those responsibilities, preferring to keep them within the Royal Domain. The current Sultan Haitham has granted the ministers responsible of those portfolios the full titles, whilst elevating the defence portfolio to that of a deputy prime minister.<ref name="rule"/> Since 1970 all legislation has been promulgated through royal decrees, including the 1996 Basic Law.<ref name="rule"/> The Sultan appoints the ministers, the judges, and can grant pardons and commute sentences.<ref name="rule"/> The Sultan's authority is inviolable and the Sultan expects total subordination to his will.<ref name="rule"/>

The administration of justice is highly personalized, with limited due process protections, especially in political and security-related cases.<ref>{{cite web|last=Stork|first=Joe|title=Human rights in the smaller Persian Gulf states: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and UAE|date=19 December 2012|url=http://www.peacebuilding.no/Regions/Middle-East-and-North-Africa/The-Gulf/Publications/Human-rights-in-the-smaller-Gulf-states-Bahrain-Kuwait-Oman-Qatar-and-UAE|work=NOREF|access-date=18 January 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140308194615/http://www.peacebuilding.no/Regions/Middle-East-and-North-Africa/The-Gulf/Publications/Human-rights-in-the-smaller-Gulf-states-Bahrain-Kuwait-Oman-Qatar-and-UAE|archive-date=8 March 2014}}</ref> The [[Basic Statute of Oman|Basic Statute of the State]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Basic Statute of the State |url=http://mola.gov.om/Nen.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130723131521/http://mola.gov.om/Nen.pdf |archive-date=23 July 2013 |work=Royal Decree 101/96 |publisher=[[Ministry of Legal Affairs]] |access-date=18 August 2012}}</ref> is supposedly the cornerstone of the Omani legal system and it operates as a constitution for the country. The Basic Statute was issued in 1996 and thus far has been amended only twice: in 2011,<ref>{{cite web |title=Amendment to Some of the Provisions of the Basic Statute of the State |url=http://www.mola.gov.om/maraseem/948/99-2011.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117012153/http://www.mola.gov.om/maraseem/948/99-2011.pdf |archive-date=17 January 2013 |work=Royal Decree 99/2011 |publisher=Ministry of Legal Affairs}}</ref> in response to [[2011 Omani protests|protests]]; and in 2021, to create the position of [[Crown Prince of Oman]].

Though Oman's legal code theoretically protects civil liberties and personal freedoms, both are regularly ignored by the regime.<ref name="rule"/> Women and children face legal discrimination in many areas.<ref name="rule"/> Women are excluded from certain state benefits, such as housing loans, and are refused equal rights under the personal status law.<ref name="rule"/> Women also experience restrictions on their self-determination in respect to health and reproductive rights.<ref name="rule"/>

The Omani legislature is the bicameral [[Council of Oman]], consisting of an upper chamber, the [[Council of State (Oman)|Council of State]] (Majlis ad-Dawlah) and a lower chamber, the [[Consultative Assembly (Oman)|Consultative Assembly]] (Majlis al-Shura).<ref name=arparl/> Political parties are banned, as are any affiliations based on religion.<ref name=econwut/> The upper chamber has 71 members, appointed by the Sultan from among prominent Omanis; it has only advisory powers.<ref name=cialegbr>{{cite web|title=Legislative Branch|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2101.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070613003906/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2101.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 June 2007|work=The World Factbook|access-date=19 January 2013}}</ref> The 84 members of the Consultative Assembly are elected by universal suffrage to serve four-year terms.<ref name=cialegbr/> The members are appointed for three-year terms, which may be renewed once.<ref name=arparl>{{cite web|title=Country Profiles (Legislature) – Oman|url=http://www.arabparliaments.org/countries/country.aspx?cid=13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120605011017/http://www.arabparliaments.org/countries/country.aspx?cid=13|archive-date=5 June 2012|publisher=Arab Parliaments}}</ref> The last elections were held on [[2023 Omani general election|29 October 2023]], and the next is due in October 2027. Oman's national anthem, ''[[As-Salam as-Sultani]]'' is dedicated to former Sultan Qaboos.