OMAN ONLINE: NO INTERMINGLING OF GIRLS AND BOYS;

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000328 SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARPI (TROBERTS),NEA/PPD (CWHITTLESEY),NEA/P (FFINVER),IIP/G/NEA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KPAO SOCI MU SUBJECT: OMAN ONLINE: NO INTERMINGLING OF GIRLS AND BOYS; SOLIDARITY WITH DETAINEES; VEIL-LESS IN SALALAH REF: 04 Muscat 2187 04 Muscat 2094 ¶1. Summary: The Omani Internet chat rooms "al-Sablah" and "al- Majarra" are the liveliest and most comprehensive Arabic-language fora for political and social discourse in the country, touching on issues and personalities rarely addressed in the conventional media. While not totally free, nor wholly reflective of Omani public opinion, these popular sites nevertheless offer a worthwhile window into the hot topics and unvarnished views of the day. This edition of Oman Online contains the following topics: --- "Dangerous Situation" At Sultan Qaboos University --- Solidarity Campaign End summary. -------------- A Cultural Divide -------------- ¶2. A Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) student wrote in al-Sablah about an incident that occurred involving an American English professor. According to the student, the teacher asked students in her classroom to form discussion groups. Each group was to be composed of two female students and two males. The initiator of the discussion condemned the intermingling of the sexes stating, "I do not accept the intermingling of boys and girls. If they sit together or socialize together they will engage in immoral behavior." Another participant wrote, "It does not matter whether the professor is American or Omani. The important thing is that we should never allow such things to happen at SQU. One subscriber stated, "The policy against intermingling is silly in this context. At the university level we will often be called upon to work in groups to advance our education. What would happen if I needed to contact a female classmate to get homework or to ask a question?" -------------- Supporting Detainees -------------- ¶3. Another topic of discussion in Al-Sablah was the ongoing detainee issue. Several Al-Sablah subscribers suggested that a group be formed to support detainees accused of harming national security. One participant wrote, "Detainees that are found to be innocent should receive our support." Another subscriber commented that there is a website where individuals can sign up to offer support to detainees. "Everyone should subscribe to the website and let the whole world know that they think that what is happening to these people is wrong." -------------- Protests In Salalah -------------- ¶4. Several Al-Sabla subscribers commented that male and female students at Dhofar University in Salalah and their parents recently marched from the university campus to the office of the governor to protest a new university policy that prohibits students from covering their faces. One al-Sabla member wrote, "We are angry! It is not acceptable for Muslim girls to go to university without covering their faces." Another participant stated, "Zionist Americans are pressing for these changes in policy. They are trying to gradually change Omani culture." Only a few subscribers supported the prohibition. One explained, "The policy does not go against Islam. Islam does not require Muslim girls to cover their faces in public." BALTIMORE