2007 RELIGIOUS FREEDOMS REPORT ELICITS POSITIVE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MUSCAT 000948

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP, DRL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/10/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL OPRC KIRF KPAO MU
SUBJECT: 2007 RELIGIOUS FREEDOMS REPORT ELICITS POSITIVE
RESPONSE; CREATES OPPORTUNITIES

REF: STATE 151961

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Alfred A. Fonteneau for Reasons 1.4 b/
d.

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Summary
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1. (SBU) Officials at the Ministry of Endowments and
Religious Affairs (MERA) characterized the 2007 International
Religious Freedoms Report (IRFR) as a fair assessment of
religious freedom in Oman and welcomed continued dialogue
with the USG on this issue. Post has identified a number of
opportunities to build on the positive response to the
report, which are presented in the comment. End summary.

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A Positive Response
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2. (SBU) Poloff recently met with officials at MERA to
discuss the 2007 IRFR. Amer bin Salim al-Rashdi, Director of
Religious Affairs, and Abdulrahman al-Salimi, Chief Editor of
the Ministry's monthly journal Tasamoh ("Tolerance"),called
the report a detailed and accurate account of the legal
framework for religion in Oman that "even researchers could
use." They welcomed continued dialogue with the USG on
religious freedom issues and, in the spirit of a free
exchange of ideas, engaged poloff on a number of specific
points in the report. Al-Salimi commented that Sharia law,
far from discriminating against women in inheritance claims
as the report asserts, actually establishes a basic level of
equity by specifying how much of the inheritance women and
men are to obtain. Poloff responded that some women have
reported unfair treatment in Oman's family status courts, and
that judges often interpret Sharia principles in a way that
discriminates against women. Al-Salimi offered to put poloff
in touch with several judges in the Muscat area to discuss
this point further.


3. (C) Al-Salimi and al-Rashdi also attempted to clarify the
Ministry's intent behind prohibiting religious gatherings in
private homes and other unsanctioned locations, which the
report highlights as a restriction on religious practice.
They assured poloff that although the MERA informed only
non-Islamic communities of the policy via a circular in May
2006, the policy applies equally to Muslim groups. In fact,
they said, the prohibition is primarily intended to prevent
the growth of fundamentalism - particularly radical Islam.
Al-Salimi opined that "in the current (post-9/11)
environment," some restrictions and government control on
religious groups' freedom are necessary to combat extremism.
(Note: Al-Salimi recently published an article in "Tasamoh"
arguing that Oman has avoided the problems with
fundamentalism that have arisen in some neighboring countries
because of the "strength of (its) political authority" that
has resisted foreign, Wahabist influences. End note.)


4. (SBU) Al-Rashdi further stated that the MERA does not
strictly enforce the prohibition, and that the government
only attempts to stop groups from meeting if the Ministry
receives complaints or if there appears to be a legitimate
security concern. Poloff informed the officials that many
non-Islamic groups nonetheless view the prohibition as a
significant limitation on their adherents' ability to
practice their faith collectively. Al-Rashdi said that he
would consider establishing a regular forum for communication
with religious communities to explain government policies and
foster an open exchange of information and concerns.

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Comment
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5. (SBU) The positive response to the IRFR may have created
new opportunities to engage local audiences on religious
freedom, as well as related topics of democracy and human
rights:

-- Contacts at the MERA and in the Grand Mufti's office
expressed an interest in partnering with the Embassy to host
a conference exploring issues of religion and governance, and
asked the Embassy to submit a proposal to the MERA for such
an event if the USG were interested.

-- The MERA also suggested that the Embassy increase U.S.
participation in the Grand Mosque's interfaith lecture
series, which already has hosted a number of U.S. speakers in
coordination with the Embassy's Public Affairs Section and

MUSCAT 00000948 002 OF 002


the Institute of American Values, a U.S.-based not-for-profit
organization.

-- Finally, Christian leaders in the Muscat area are willing
to host interfaith events to increase dialogue and
understanding between Omani Muslims and the expatriate,
non-Muslim community, and welcomed Embassy support in
organizing these events through the MERA.

Post will continue to identify opportunities for dialogue,
and welcomes Department support in advancing these or other
ideas.
FONTENEAU