Human rights in Oman
Oman is an absolute monarchy in which all legislative, executive, and judiciary power ultimately rests in the hands of the hereditary sultan, and in which the system of laws is based firmly on Islamic sharia. Although a report by the U.S. State Department, based on conditions in 2010, summed up the human rights situation in the country by asserting that the government "generally respected the human rights of its citizens,"[1] In reaction to growing public demonstrations by protesters demanding greater freedom and human rights, Oman's already severe constraints on freedom of speech, assembly, and association have been tightened even further since early 2011.
LGBT rights
[change | change source]There is considerable discrimination against LGBT persons, and individuals engaging in homosexual conduct are subject to prosecution and can be imprisoned for up to three years. In 2009, nine persons were prosecuted for sodomy. Any discussion whatsoever of sexual orientation in Oman is taboo, and LGBT content on the Internet is censored.[1]
In 2013, San Diego LGBT Weekly reported that Gulf Cooperative Countries had agreed to establish some form of, yet unknown, testing in order to ban gay foreigners from entering any of the countries.[2]
References
[change | change source]- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Oman". US Department of State. Retrieved January 18, 2013.
- ↑ "Gulf Cooperation Countries to test, detect, then ban gays from entering their countries". San Diego LGBT Weekly. October 8, 2013. Archived from the original on October 8, 2013. Retrieved October 9, 2013.