No takers for IS’s cause in tolerant Oman

Men in orange jumpsuits purported to be Egyptian Christians held captive by the Islamic State (IS) kneel in front of armed men along a beach said to be near Tripoli, in this still image from an undated video made available on social media on February 15, 2015. Photo - Reuters

Muscat: As the ranks of IS continue to swell with foreign fighters, new research shows that not a single Omani has joined their cause.

The report, by the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation and Political violence (ICSR), shows citizens of a number of Gulf countries becoming IS recruits, thankfully the Sultanate has avoided this.

"According to ICSR's latest estimate, the total now exceeds 20,000, of which nearly a fifth are residents or nationals of West European countries," says Peter R. Neumann, ICSR Director in a report on its official website.

The figures collected with the help of Munich Security Conference, will be included in the Munich Security Report, a new, annual digest on key developments in security and foreign policy.

Southeast Asia
"They include estimates from 50 countries for which sufficient data or reliable government figures were available. Southeast Asia remains a blind spot. Countries with 5 or less confirmed cases were omitted. With the exception of some Middle East countries, all figures are based on data from the second half of 2014 and refer to the total number of travellers over the course of the entire conflict" Neumann's
article says.

In the region, Saudi Arabia nationals top the list with estimated 1,500-2,500 fighters joining the list.

From Kuwait an estimated 70, 15 from the UAE, 15 from Qatar and 12 from Bahrain are said to have joined their ranks.

Zakriya Al Mahrami, a political analyst and writer from Oman said, "This comes as no surprise because Oman has kept away from extremism and terrorism. This is because of political, social and cultural stability."

He said this is a reflection of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said's leadership and vision.

Tolerance in Oman is a distinctive characteristic of the national and cultural identity, he said, adding,
"Oman has people from different faiths and beliefs staying together. The Omani government doesn't leave scope for any kind of intolerance."

Oman has been quick to condemn terror attacks in any part of the world.

Whether it was attack at the French newspaper Charlie Hebdo, the execution of Jordanian pilot, or, the execution of a group of Egyptian nationals in Libya, the Sultanate has denounced all attacks.

Condemning the French newspaper attack the Sultanate had stressed "its firm position in renouncing violence, terrorism in all its forms and the resulting casualties and the destruction of life and property, calling for the need for concerted international efforts to contain and counter terrorism."

"It is true, apart from condemning, the security authorities keep a close eye on any practice that undermines the security and peace in the country," said a government official who didn't want to be named.

"Strict laws are enforced to confront extremism, and great caution is exercised while dealing with all issues," he added

Mohammed Al Hinai, an Imam at Ibri mosque, told the Times of Oman, that the mosque plays a big part in educating people.

"The Omani community has a strong bond with mosque and it teaches them to move away from terrorism. This community believes in tolerance and harmony with other religions," he said.

An official at the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs said that the Sultanate pursues a moderate approach and stays away from extremism and intolerance and slogans that lead to hostility and tension between cultures and civilisations.

Religious moderation
He added that the Sultanate has a long history of Islamic heritage and plays a major role in promoting religious moderation and tolerance among nations and people.

"Oman promotes international activities and events that serve the whole world. By organising several international conferences including interfaith dialogue, it strives to promote religious tolerance," said the official.

Said Al Muqbali, the head of the Legal Committee at Majlis Al Shura, said that Oman soil supports only positive developments and doesn't encourage growth of negative elements.

He said, "The Sultanate is known as a nation that respects other countries and follows a peaceful agenda with all its international relationships. So internally too, we give priority to a peaceful agenda."

After the Jordanian pilot's horrific execution at the hands of IS, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently said, "The Sultanate, as it condemns in the strongest terms this criminal act that reflects an inherent malice and organised terrorism against all Muslims and which goes contrary to the divine law and the sanctity of human soul, reaffirms the importance of concerted international community's efforts in the fight against terrorism and eradicate its sources."

Condemning the execution of Egyptian nationals on the Libyan territories, a statement from Oman said, "The Sultanate of Oman received with utmost concern the news about the execution of 21 Egyptian citizens. While it condemns this criminal and heinous act, which reflects deep hatred and organised terrorism that contradicts with all religions and sanctity of the human soul, it reaffirms the importance of collaboration of the efforts of the international community to combat terrorism and eradicate its sources."