Sultanate of Oman
Diwan of Royal Court
Sultan Qaboos Higher Centre for Culture and Science
Diwan of Royal Court
Sultan Qaboos Higher Centre for Culture and Science
Media plays an important role in supporting the alliance of civilizations projects, consolidating relations between the world’s peoples, and confirming the values of coexistence and tolerance. The Omani media in all its types (audiovisual and written) is inspired by these contents which are incorporated in its programs and plans in accordance with balanced policies and approaches of the Sultanate of Oman’s government. The Omani media focuses on providing a discourse which does not interfere in the others’ business, shedding the light on mutual issues, rejecting stirring discord and conflicts between people, and supporting the values of communication and respect of the others. The Omani press does not endorse as well any conflicts between civilizations or even between countries. It tries in this regard to remain as professional as possible. The following is an overview of the main efforts deployed in the Sultanate of Oman in the field of media, in the aim of supporting the objectives of the alliance of civilizations initiative:
The Sultanate of Oman is implementing a number of projects and programs in the field of media, which are ongoing and implemented on a regular basis. These projects and programs are the following:
Islam House (Omani Village) is a part of the Museum of Eastern Culture and Religion in Nijmegen city in the Netherlands. The museum includes miniature samples of three villages representing the three monotheistic religions, namely Islam, Christianity and Judaism. The project aims at developing the Islam House (Omani Village) through redesigning its parts and updating the components of each part. It aims at showcasing the correct image of Islam and its tolerance among the followers of other religions, in addition to highlighting the points of convergence between Islam and other religions.
A periodical magazine issued by the Omani Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs since 2003. It aims at disseminating the spirit of tolerance among the people of this earth, and proposing the culture of common ground and the idea that religion is an essential and influential party in disseminating the values of understanding, sharing and mutual respect. The magazine also aims at clarifying the fact that the difference in races, ideas and languages is a source of wealth and that diversity is the will of God who created human beings, and that humanity today needs more than ever the dissemination of the culture of peace and tolerance. The magazine includes articles from a prominent group of intellectuals from all around the world and with different cultural backgrounds. The topics discussed vary and range between issues related to the Islamic thought specifically and horizons of the Human Culture generally. It is possible to have access to this magazine through the following website: www.altasamoh.net
The relevant institutions in the field of cultural and religious discourse organize a number of events and programs where they host an elite of intellectuals, scholars and researchers from the different corners of the world in the aim of providing the real and most accurate information about the other to those having a different cultural and religious background. Furthermore, such gatherings aim at achieving rapprochement between the different cultures and religions. Among these institutions Sultan Qaboos Center for Islamic Culture, Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs, Ministry of Heritage, Sultan Qaboos University and other civil society institutions.
The Sultanate of Oman organizes cultural weeks in different brethren and friendly countries such as the Oman Culture Week in Berlin organized between 25-6 and 1-7 2008 which has included a special pavilion for Omani Mushaf (Quran) gathering 50 exhibits. This special pavilion has tried through its exhibits to give an overview about the Omani Masahef (Qurans) and the stages of writing them. The Oman Culture Week also was a cultural celebration where cultural differences and obstacles melted and were replaced by rapprochement, networking and convergence between cultures through the different cultural and artistic performances in which have participated Omanis, Germans and others from other nationalities.
Oman National Commission for Education, Culture and Science publishes a periodical supplement in Arabic and English which tackles educational, cultural, scientific and communication-related issues. It works on consolidating the issues related to dialogue and communication with the different categories of the local and international community.
The Sultanate joined the Nexos project for the alliance of civilizations in 2008 as a sponsor. This project is considered a multifaceted media project which works on disseminating the ideas of the alliance of civilizations initiative through advanced technology tools in the aim of focusing on the similarities between the different cultures, thus strengthening the principles of respect, tolerance and understanding between people.
The Omani Press is enriched with the contributions of many writers from the different parts of the world and from different cultures and religions who find in the Omani magazines and newspapers a generous space where they can express their opinions on the different political, economic and social issues. The space is also open for these writers and journalists to work in the Omani public and private publishing houses.
Since English is the most widely used language in the world today, and based upon the keenness to speaking with the others using the language they understand, the Sultanate of Oman works on providing English-speaking media which targets those who speak this language among its citizens, residents and visitors, as well as the viewers and listeners of the Omani media through the different channels and satellite channels. In this context, there are two English-speaking radio channels in the Sultanate in addition to a number of newspapers issued in English. Oman Television also offers a number of programs, series, movies and news in English
Oman Film Society organizes an annual film festival with the participation of a number of filmmakers from different countries of the world. The 6th version of Muscat International Film Festival in 2010 (between the 13th and 20th of March 2010) has witnessed broadcasting a number of Omani, Arab and foreign films. The festival is a prosperous environment for convergence between the different film cultures and a gate of openness towards the others’ cultures according to the perspective of convergence between civilizations. The continuity of this festival is full proof on the willingness to keep up this event which has achieved a special presence among other similar festivals on the regional level.
There are also other intermittent projects and programs that were implemented in the field of media which are in line with the directions of the Alliance of Civilizations initiative which are the following:
The book “Tolerance: Experience of Oman and Russia” was launched on the 14th of March 2010. The book is a joint cultural publication between the Sultanate of Oman (represented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and Russia. It reflects the Sultanate of Oman’s and Russia’s experience through a number of articles by Omani and Russian authors where they discussed the notion of tolerance from their perspective. The authors have also tackled Omani – Russian relations, political and religious tolerance from the Islamic perspective, the Omani perception of the culture of tolerance and networking, the Islamic reality, in addition to the Omani and Russian experiences in the field of tolerance, through different articles which reflect with the depth of their words all types and forms of tolerance between people.
The Sultanate participates in this international exhibition in the aim of ensuring cultural exchange with other people, especially on the economic, cultural touristic and historical levels. In fact, 42 countries and organizations participated in this exhibition entitled: “Better city – Better Life”.