World Report - Oman

• Area: 309,500 sq. km.
• Population: 3,400,000
• Language: Arabic
• Head of state: Sultan Qabous Bin Said al-Said (since 1970)

The press law in the Sultanate of Oman, in force since 1984, is long overdue for reform. This law provides for penalties for violations of up to one year in prison, as well as heavy fines (up to 1,000 riyals = 1,765 euros) under Article 61. The wording of some articles, which is deliberately vague, leaves a wide margin for different interpretations. Moreover, this same law gives the information ministry the right to exercise a considerable influence over the media's editorial line. Censorship and self-censorship are therefore a constant factor.

The five privately owned newspapers (three in Arabic and two in English), which receive state subsidies, come under strong political pressure. Their editorial line is rarely critical of the government. The state runs three radio stations and two television channels. Three privately owned stations were launched in 2004 (Private Radio and Television Companies Law) but their output is mostly limited to music. The occasional news bulletins simply pick up reports provided by the Oman News Agency. Omanis have no difficulty in watching foreign television on satellite but no foreign media has a permanent bureau in the country.

The state decides who can or cannot be a journalist and this permission can be withdrawn at any time simply on the basis of an administrative ruling. Further, access to news and information can be problematic. Journalists have to be content with news compiled by the official news agency on some issues and publications, whether state-run or private, have to be approved by the authorities to be printed.

The sultan does not readily accept any criticism of his management of political affairs. His information ministry is quick to censor any publication or report, national or international, viewed as too damaging to "the culture and morals of the country". Journalists labelled as overly critical can have great difficulty doing their job, including finding a media willing to hire them, despite denials by the authorities of the existence of any actual blacklist. Two intellectual figures, Adbdallah al-Ryami and Mohammed el-Harthi, have been banned from appearing on television since 2004, after criticising the authorities for their lack of will to promote democratic reform on the Iranian channel al-Alam.

The commission responsible for authorising new titles in August 2004 revised upwards the minimum capital required to launch a publication to half a million dollars, making it all but impossible for new press companies to be created independently of the political authorities or the business community, widely seen as close to the regime.

Against this background, the Internet has become the primary alternative space for Omani public opinion to be expressed with discussion on sensitive subjects posted on numerous forums and blogs. The state however enjoys a monopoly on telecommunications, through the publicly owned Omantel. Some websites dealing with news about Oman are filtered. The authorities in November 2006 arrested Said al-Rachidi, director of the Omani Network, one of the country's most popular websites, along with his colleagues in charges of social and political posts. The government in May 2008 through a decree by the sultan, extended its control over blogs and other websites.