Country: Oman

Oman is an absolute monarchy which has been ruled by hereditary leader Sultan Qaboos since 1970. While part of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Oman pursues more isolationist politics. To date, Oman has only ratified four of the nine core international human rights instruments and is not a party to any of the conventions protecting fundamental rights, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Convention against Torture and the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.

Since the beginning of the Arab uprisings, Oman has witnessed an increased crackdown on freedom of expression through press censorship and the monitoring of social media. The Omani authorities further restricted freedom of the media by subjecting journalists critical of the authorities to acts retaliation, including through arbitrary arrests and the revocation of their licences. Newspapers and other publications criticising government policies were also banned.

Moreover, peaceful dissidents, political opponents and human right defenders face intimidation and prosecution for their activities as well as reprisals against their families, particularly through the imposition of travel bans and the confiscation of passports.

Omani Commission for Human Rights must improve its effectiveness, pluralism and independence from the government

MENA Rights Group and the Oman Center for Human Rights and Democracy welcome the Sub-Committee on Accreditation’s decision to defer the review of Oman’s National Human Rights Institution over its lack of compliance with the Paris Principles.

Omani Human Rights Commission fails to protect human rights, say NGOs

In a letter addressed to the Sub-Committee on Accreditation, MENA Rights Group and the Oman Center for Human Rights and Democracy have warned that Oman’s national human rights institution (NHRI), the Omani Human Rights Commission (OHRC) fails to fulfill its mandate to protect human rights in the country. The NGOs urged the Committee to grant the […]

Omani businessman released after being sentenced to two years in prison for peaceful social media activity

Al-Sarhani is a well-known businessman and vocal critic of the Omani government. In 2022, he was arrested on multiple occasions for voicing his concern about the economic situation in Oman and the decreasing livelihood of Omani individuals. He was arrested multiple times for his activity on Youtube and for organising a sit-in in Muscat, and […]

Mukhtar Al Hinai, Omani Journalist subject to judicial harrasment, acquitted of all charges

On March 9, 2022, Al Hinai wrote on his twitter account that members of the government had been convicted by the Muscat court for embezzlement and forgery. His main tweet, which has since been deleted, reads: “The Muscat Court has issued a ruling convicting 8 defendants of a felony of embezzlement and forgery… that occurred […]

Sri Lankan migrant worker Jeya Vijayakumar disappeared in Oman

On March 3, 2020, Jeya Vijayakumar flew to Dubai to work as a housemaid. After arriving in the United Arab Emirates, the agency sponsoring her travels, Mushadik Travels, informed Vijayakumar that they had found a placement for her in Dubai. However, two days later, she was misled and was instead taken to Oman from Dubai. On […]

Oman responds to UN member states’ recommendations issued during the country’s last universal periodic review

On January 21, 2021, Oman’s human rights record was reviewed during Oman’s third periodic review before the UN Human Rights Council. The Omani delegation accepted 208 of the 264 recommendations it was presented with, took note of 49 of them and partially accepted and took note of 7 other recommendations. While Oman accepted the member […]

Oman’s human rights record reviewed at its third UPR session

On January 21, 2021, the Sultanate of Oman completed its third Universal Periodic Review (UPR) before the UN Human Rights Council. The UPR is a state-led review mechanism aimed at examining UN Member States’ human rights record. The review process allows other states to provide recommendations to the country under review. During this UPR session, […]

Overview of the human rights situation in Oman in the context of the 3rd Universal Periodic Review

1. Scope of international obligations and cooperation with international human rights mechanisms and bodies 1.1 Scope of international obligations Article 76 of the Basic Law on Oman (Basic Law)[1] provides that international treaties become national law upon ratification and are enforceable domestically. However, Oman has not ratified (i) the International Covenant on Civil and Political […]