Editing Oman (section)

===Human rights===
{{Main|Human rights in Oman}}
{{See also|LGBT rights in Oman}}
[[File:Portrait Of Dr. Talib Al Mamari.jpg|thumb|[[Talib Al Mamari]], a former member of the [[Consultative Assembly (Oman)|Consultative Assembly of Oman]], who was arrested in 2013 after participating in a peaceful protest as a mediator. The [[Working Group on Arbitrary Detention|UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention]] (WGAD) deemed his detention arbitrary and a violation of his right to freedom of expression.]]
Torture methods in use in Oman include [[mock execution]], beating, [[hooding]], solitary confinement, subjection to extremes of temperature and to constant noise, abuse and humiliation.<ref name="torture">{{cite web|url = http://www.gc4hr.org/report/view/20|title = Torture in Oman|year = 2014|publisher = Gulf Center for Human Rights|access-date = 29 December 2014|archive-date = 7 September 2019|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190907090808/https://www.gc4hr.org/report/view/20|url-status = live}}</ref><ref name=prev>{{cite web|url=http://www.gc4hr.org/news/view/579|title=Torture in Oman|quote=The practice of torture is widespread in Oman state penal institutions and has become the state's knee jerk reaction to independent political expression, the Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) says in a report published today|year=2014|publisher=Gulf Center for Human Rights|access-date=29 December 2014|archive-date=24 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724185106/https://www.gc4hr.org/news/view/579|url-status=live}}</ref> There have been numerous reports of torture and other inhumane forms of punishment perpetrated by Omani security forces on protesters and detainees.<ref name=bti>{{cite web|url=http://www.bti-project.org/reports/country-reports/mena/omn/index.nc|title=BTI 2014 – Oman Country Report|year=2014|publisher=BTI Project|access-date=29 December 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141228234844/http://www.bti-project.org/reports/country-reports/mena/omn/index.nc|archive-date=28 December 2014}}</ref> Several prisoners detained in 2012 complained of sleep deprivation, extreme temperatures and solitary confinement.<ref name="report"/> [[LGBT rights in Oman|Homosexuality]] is criminalised within Oman.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://old.ilga.org/Statehomophobia/ILGA_SSHR_2014_Eng.pdf|title=State-sponsored Homophobia A world survey of laws prohibiting same sex activity between consenting adults|access-date=31 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161020202330/http://old.ilga.org/Statehomophobia/ILGA_SSHR_2014_Eng.pdf|archive-date=20 October 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[File:Mohammed Al-fazari.jpeg|thumb|upright|[[Mohammed Al-Fazari]], an exiled Omani writer and journalist now living in the UK, is an author whose [[Book censorship|books are banned]] in Oman. He is also the founder and EIC of [[Muwatin Media Network|Muwatin]].<ref name="omanhrw">{{cite book |title=Oman: Events of 2018 |url=https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2019/country-chapters/oman |publisher=Human Rights Watch |date=17 December 2018 |access-date=17 April 2019 |archive-date=18 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230118171940/https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2019/country-chapters/oman |url-status=live }}</ref>]]

The Omani government decides who can or cannot be a journalist and this permission can be withdrawn at any time.<ref name=qaboos>{{cite web|author=Whitaker, Brian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/mar/04/oman-sultan-qaboos-despot|title=Oman's Sultan Qaboos: a classy despot|year=2011|work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=29 December 2014|author-link=Brian Whitaker|archive-date=18 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230118171943/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/mar/04/oman-sultan-qaboos-despot|url-status=live}}</ref> Censorship and [[self-censorship]] are a constant factor.<ref name="qaboos"/> Omanis have limited access to political information through the media.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bti-project.org/fileadmin/files/BTI/Downloads/Reports/2016/pdf/BTI_2016_Oman.pdf|title=Country Report: Oman|year=2016|publisher=BTI Project|page=12|access-date=3 June 2016|archive-date=8 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808043953/https://www.bti-project.org/fileadmin/files/BTI/Downloads/Reports/2016/pdf/BTI_2016_Oman.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> Access to news and information can be problematic: journalists have to be content with news compiled by the official news agency on some issues.<ref name="qaboos"/> Through a decree by the Sultan, the government has now extended its control over the media to blogs and other websites.<ref name="qaboos"/> Omanis cannot hold a public meeting without the government's approval.<ref name="qaboos"/> Omanis who want to set up a non-governmental organisation of any kind need a licence.<ref name="qaboos"/> The Omani government does not permit the formation of independent [[civil society]] associations.<ref name="bti"/> [[Human Rights Watch]] issued in 2016, that an Omani court sentenced three journalists to prison and ordered the permanent closure of their newspaper, over an article that alleged corruption in the judiciary.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/10/03/oman-journalists-sentenced-over-articles-alleging-corruption|title=Oman: Journalists Sentenced Over Articles Alleging Corruption|date=3 October 2016|publisher=Human Rights Watch|access-date=2 March 2017|archive-date=18 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230118171943/https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/10/03/oman-journalists-sentenced-over-articles-alleging-corruption|url-status=live}}</ref>

Omani law prohibits criticism of the Sultan and government in any form or medium.<ref name="qaboos"/> Oman's police do not need [[search warrants]] to enter people's homes.<ref name="qaboos"/> The law does not provide citizens with the right to change their government.<ref name="qaboos"/> The Sultan retains ultimate authority on all foreign and domestic issues.<ref name="qaboos"/> Government officials are not subject to financial disclosure laws.<ref name="qaboos"/> Criticism of government figures and politically objectionable views have been suppressed.<ref name="qaboos"/> Publication of books is limited and the government restricts their importation and distribution, as with other media products.<ref name="qaboos"/>

Until 2023, Omani citizens needed government permission to marry foreigners.<ref name=report>{{cite web|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/2013/nea/220371.htm|title=2013 Human Rights Reports: Oman|year=2014|publisher=[[US Department of State]]|access-date=29 December 2014|archive-date=19 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190819102135/https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/2013/nea/220371.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> In April 2023, the law was changed by a royal decree, allowing Omani citizens to marry foreigners without government permission.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Barrington |first=Lisa |date=April 19, 2023 |title=Oman liberalises foreign marriage law in rare social reform |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/oman-liberalises-foreign-marriage-law-rare-social-reform-2023-04-19/#:~:text=DUBAI%2C%20April%2019%20(Reuters),in%20the%20conservative%20Gulf%20country. |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231204021152/http://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/oman-liberalises-foreign-marriage-law-rare-social-reform-2023-04-19/ |archive-date=December 4, 2023 |access-date=May 16, 2024 |work=[[Reuters]] |pages=1}}</ref> According to HRW, women in Oman face discrimination.<ref name="omanhrw"/>

The plight of [[domestic worker]]s in Oman is a taboo subject.<ref>{{cite web|author=Susan Al Shahri|url=http://mideastposts.com/showcase/a-taboo-subject-the-desperate-plight-of-domestic-workers-in-oman/|title=A Taboo Subject: The Desperate Plight of Domestic Workers in Oman|year=2012|publisher=Mideast Posts|access-date=29 December 2014|archive-date=28 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141228173922/http://mideastposts.com/showcase/a-taboo-subject-the-desperate-plight-of-domestic-workers-in-oman/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=taboo>{{cite web|author=Susan Mubarak|url=http://www.muscatdaily.com/Archive/Stories-Files/Things-We-Don-t-Talk-About|title=Things We Don't Talk About|year=2012|work=[[Muscat Daily]]|access-date=29 December 2014|archive-date=28 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141228173933/http://www.muscatdaily.com/Archive/Stories-Files/Things-We-Don-t-Talk-About|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2011, the [[Philippines]] government determined that out of all the countries in the Middle East, only Oman and Israel qualify as safe for Filipino migrants.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.migrant-rights.org/research/is-any-country-in-the-middle-east-safe-for-migrant-workers/|title=Is Any Country in The Middle East Safe for Migrant Workers?|year=2011|publisher=migrantrights.org|access-date=29 December 2014|archive-date=30 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141230223407/http://www.migrant-rights.org/research/is-any-country-in-the-middle-east-safe-for-migrant-workers/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=taboo/> Migrant workers remained insufficiently protected against exploitation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Oman Archives |url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/location/middle-east-and-north-africa/oman/report-oman/ |access-date=15 April 2022 |publisher=Amnesty International |language=en |archive-date=15 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220415054953/https://www.amnesty.org/en/location/middle-east-and-north-africa/oman/report-oman/ |url-status=live }}</ref>