Oman police detain Asian and African expatriate women over public decency, labour and residency violations

MUSCAT, Aug 8: The Royal Oman Police (ROP) has detained several expatriate women from African and Asian nationalities in Muscat Governorate for alleged violations involving public decency, as well as breaches of labour and residency regulations.

The arrests were carried out by the Muscat Governorate Police Command. According to the authorities, the women were accused of appearing in public in clothing considered offensive to public morals and of violating Oman’s labour and residency laws. Legal procedures have been initiated against those detained, with their cases now being handled through the relevant legal process.

The police did not disclose how many women were arrested and did not provide further details about the locations or specific circumstances of the alleged violations.

The arrests come under Oman’s legal framework governing public conduct and social norms. Article 294(a) of the Penal Code, issued under Royal Decree No. 7/2018, states that a person who appears in a public place in a manner considered indecent or contrary to Oman’s customs and traditions may face imprisonment for between one and three months, a fine ranging from OMR 100 to OMR 300, or both penalties.

In addition to provisions concerning public decency, the detained women are also alleged to have breached labour and residency regulations. Authorities did not specify the nature of those alleged violations.

Omani law also gives members of the public the right to report suspected offenses involving public conduct to law enforcement authorities. Such reports can lead to police investigations and, where violations are established, legal action.

The ROP has not released further information about the identities of the detained women, their occupations, or the next steps in the cases.