Indian asked to leave Oman after ‘speech’

An Indian national was asked to leave the country after he presented a “lecture that did not conform to Sultanate’s principles, approaches and policies”.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the speech delivered by Sulaiman bin Taher al Husseini al Nadawi, an Indian national, at the College of Shariah Sciences. “The speech came out of context in a manner inconsistent with the principles, approaches and policies of the Sultanate,” said the ministry.

It said action was taken against the speaker by the authorities concerned and he was asked to leave the Sultanate. Last January, the Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs issued a statement to regulate public lectures.

The ministry said it had recorded instances in which a speaker is invited to present a religious lecture, but it turns out that he would speak about a religious sect.

The ministry said acceptable.

The ministry said obtaining prior approval for holding such a lecture is mandatory. Those violating rules will have to face legal consequences. The rule applies not only to international speakers, but also to local ones.

The decision is expected to enable the ministry to regulate the issues discussed in public on the topic (religion). The ministry wants to ensure speeches “do not cross the red line”. this was not