Oman extends prison penalty to insults against national anthem, newspaper reports

Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tarik has issued a decree extending a prison penalty to deliberate insults against the national anthem, Times of Oman reported on November 1. The punishment ranges from three months to three years.

Royal Decree No. 99/2026 amends Oman's law governing its national symbols. A version of the decree published by nabd.ws gives its issue date as October 29, 2026, and says it takes effect the day after publication in the Official Gazette.

The reported change extends an existing sentencing range rather than introducing that range for the first time. Qanoon.om's reproduction of the 2004 law shows that deliberate insults against the flag or state emblem already carried a three-month minimum and three-year maximum prison term.

According to Times of Oman, the replacement Article 16 covers intentional insults to the anthem conveyed through spoken or written words, gestures, distortion, or other conduct expressing contempt or hatred. It applies the same prison range to those acts.

For the flag and emblem, the amended article retains punishment for deliberate insults, including acts of lowering or destruction, the newspaper reported. The provision ties the prohibited conduct to an intention to insult those symbols.

The decree also changes the rules for performing the anthem. Times of Oman said an addition to Article 14 allows the competent authority to specify further settings and occasions for performances, with approval from the Council of Ministers.

The 2004 text reproduced by Qanoon.om identifies that authority as Royal Protocol at the Diwan of Royal Court. The underlying law was issued under Royal Decree No. 53/2004, dated May 22, 2004, according to the legal website.

Times of Oman also reported that the decree replaces two annexes setting out flag and emblem dimensions and specifications. Neither the new annexes nor the attached amendments appear in the decree report reproduced by nabd.ws.

The decree repeals conflicting provisions. Its commencement depends on publication in the Official Gazette, rather than on the October 29 issue date; the reports did not identify a Gazette publication date.