Press and Publication laws tightened in Oman

Decree bans publication of 'anything' that may prejudice safety of the state or its internal or external securityOman has tightened press and publication laws through a Royal Decree issued by Sultan Qaboos Bin Saeed Sunday.The decree bans publication of ‘anything’ that may prejudice the safety of the state or its internal or external security. The order also prohibits publication of all that could be related to military and security apparatuses, their bylaws and internal regulations, any documents or information or news or official secret communications.The ban includes publication of information through visual, audio or print media as well as internet or any of the information technology media.The decree says that such information could not be published in any form unless a permission is obtained from the respective authority. It also banned the publication of wordings of agreements and treaties concluded by the government before they are published in the official gazette.