Oman--Christian Persecution in Oman

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Middle East: Oman

Country Report Last Updated: April 2002

Code: Not Rated

(Click here for a code description.)

(Click here for a list of ICC articles on Oman.)
List of Articles Last Updated: October 5, 1999

COUNTRY STATISTICS

Area: 212,460 sq km
Capital: Muscat
Main Cities: Duqm, Salala, Sur
Population: 2,622,198
Population Growth: 3.43%
Birth Rate: 37.96 births/ 1000 people
Death Rate: 4.1 death/ 1000 people
Infant Mortality: 22.52 deaths/ 1000 live births
Life Expectancy: 72.04 years

Religions: Ibadhi Muslim, other Muslim
Languages: Arabic, English, Baluchi, Urdu
Ethnic Groups: Arab, Baluchi, South Asian
Currency: Omani rial (OMR)
Exchange Rate: 0.3845 OMR= 1 USD
Total GDP: $19.6 billion
Per Capita PPP: $7,700
Imports: $4.5 billion
Exports: $11.1 billion

(Source: CIA World Fact Book 2001)

Religious Atmosphere: The people of this country are 54% Muslims of the Ibadhis sect and 6% Shi’ite Muslims. 40% of the population consists of expatriates of various religious backgrounds.

Extremist Groups: No extremist groups have been cited for incidences of persecution in this country.

Government:

Islam is the state religion. Religious freedom is guaranteed in the Constitution. However, proselytizing Muslims is illegal.

Non-Muslims groups, including Christians, Hindus, and Buddhists, have been granted permission by the Sultan to meet in clearly defined, walled compounds. Bulletins used during a service must include the warning to not give the bulletin to anyone outside the congregation. The Sultan has donated land for some of these compounds.
It is illegal to sell Bibles.
Many Muslim families forbid their servants from going to church and offer them incentives to convert to Islam.

Recent Actions: No government sponsored acts of religious persecution have been witnessed.

Prisoners: There is no evidence that prisoners are being held for religious beliefs at this time.

Suggested Actions You Might Take:

Pray for the Christians of Oman that they may allowed to practice and share their faith freely and without the threat of violence from the Muslim population. The present day levels of freedom seem to come from the Sultan himself. Pray for him that he continues to find increasing favor with Christians interested in worshiping freely in Oman and that whoever leads the country next will do the same. Pray also that the Christian message may be heard and received by all the people of Oman.
Keep us informed! If you have any information about your involvement in Oman and/or the general situation regarding religious liberty, feel free to contact us by e-mail at: icc@persecution.org.

Official Contacts:

Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman
2535 Belmont Rd., N.W.
Washington, DC 20008
Tel: (202) 387-1980
Fax: (202) 745-4933

Sultan Qabus bin Said Al Said
The Palace
Muscat, Oman

WebPage: http://omanet.com/moi_govt.htm

Royal Minister of Foreign Affairs
Post Office Box 252
Qurum, Muscat 113, Sultanate of Oman
Tel: 011 968 699-500
Fax: 011 968 699-590

Ministry of the Interior
P.O. Box 127
Ruwi-Coda 12
Muscat, Oman

*We make every attempt to keep up with and reflect changes in the national government of Oman and the current human rights situation. We appreciate your feedback if you find any discrepancies in this information. You can contact us by e-mail at ICC@PERSECUTION.ORG. Thanks.

POSTED: April 2, 2002

ICC Articles on Oman:


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Oman--Christian Persecution in Oman

Serving the Persecuted Church: Support & Training of Underground Pastors § Humanitarian Aid § Advocacy for the Persecuted on Capitol Hill

Middle East: Oman

POSTED: April 2, 2002

ICC Articles on Oman:

Serving the Persecuted Church:
Support & Training of Underground Pastors §
Humanitarian Aid § Advocacy for the Persecuted on Capitol Hill