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Freedom of Expression & Alcohol

August 29th, 2009 | Posted in Oman, Omani Websites

Alcohol

The Arabic Omani blogosphere has gone mad in the last two weeks over a post written by Muawiyah Al Rawahi that suggested that the government should loosen its alcohol regulations to allow local Omanis to also have an alcohol purchase permit, just like expats. For those who don’t know, except for the month of Ramadan, alcohol can be served at licensed restaurants and hotels in Oman legally for all Omani and expat customers. However, licensed liquor stores in Oman can only sell alcohol to “permit” holders. Muawiyah suggested in his blog post that the fact that locals are not allowed to have an alcohol purchase permit pushes them to seek the alcohol black market which is obviously not regulated and can have health and safety issues in addition to the monopolistic activities practiced in such markets.

The Arabic community was outraged by Muawiyah’s public discussion of a social and religious taboo: drinking alcohol. Though previously celebrated in forums and other blogs for his commentary and criticism of public figures and government practices, Muawiyah has been criticised and personally insulted on a number of online discussion boards for his “unislamic and immoral opinions”.  ِA single thread dedicated to criticise and attack Muawiyah on Omania2.net had more than 12 pages of comments AFTER deleting all the ones which were regarded by the staff members as ones that violate the rules of the forum. A Omani member of over a 1000 posts who claims to be currently in Australia asked the administration to ban Muawiyah completely from the forum because of his suggestions to disobey religion.

The outrage in the Arabic community is bizarre to some extent, mainly because the sale of alcohol is legal in Oman. Yet it remains socially unacceptable for most people, and it is of course prohibited by religion. The majority of commentators in Arabic forums cannot seem digest the idea that alcohol has always been legal in Oman. This reminds me of how I always tried to explain to my classmates earlier this year about different social norms in Oman, and how things could be legal, yet socially and religiously unacceptable (e.g. drinking alcohol), or legal and religiously permitted, yet socially no longer acceptable (e.g. having four wives).

It is interesting to see how ‘freedom of expression’ became a really popular proposition in the online Omani community with all the expose´campaigns and criticism of the government earlier this year, yet the community is not willing to allow a blogger to have an “opinion” on a legal topic that is not socially acceptable. However, just the same way the authority can no longer control what people want to say, the people themselves will not be able to control what anybody wants to say either.

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  • Muhawiyah is a smart guy, so when he writes something, he knows the consequences and he calls for it
    I went through the post with the translator and his point, I seem to understand, is similar to those who in Europe are in favour of legalising drugs, which will destroy the black market .
    He wants to turn into a profitable thing, something which is already there but is bringing only negative outcomes : leaving aside the religious aspect though, he doesn't go much into details on how to implement such a plan .
    Liberalization can be a useful tool, still you need to place limits .
  • Sarah
    Actually if my memory serves me right hotels are now (or as of at least sometime last year) permitted to serve alcohol during Ramadhan as well. Weren't you in the office when we came across that piece of news? MUST'VE been in early 2008 if not 2007 even.
  • Balqis, my point was not much the actual opinion of Muawiyah's, but the unwilling of the public of Muawiyah's right to discuss whatever he wishes to discuss.

    Sarah, that was actually a press release made by a hotel, I think Radisson SAS, in 2007, but nothing formal was ever made by MOT, and the ban still remains in place.
  • I read the thread a few days ago. What he says is true. Many of my older family members used to buy their alcohol from "Jabal Akhdar". They just used to make it there.. no big deal.

    But do I agree with him... hmmmm
  • muscati
    Muawiyah wrote about this topic many times over the past month or so. Problem is he kinda was asking to be attacked. He wrote it on his blog. Wrote about it again and again, and reposted on Sabla and other Arabic forums as well. I salute him for his bravery of posting his views on topics like this one but I guess he needs to decide whether he's a blogger or just an agitator or more.

    His view in itself isn't original or new. Many people have the same opinion on the opening up of alcohol sales in Oman for Omanis. I myself have written about it many times on Oman Forum. Difference is, I wrote it in English and so that doesn't carry any weight in Oman and had no consequence for me at all.

    I believe that in order for Omani blogging to mature we need more people blogging like Muawiyah, regardless whether we agree with them or not. And we need them to stick to blogging and stop reposting what they write on forums.
  • Omanis aren't used to being mentally challenged. With a collectivistic society like ours, it's hard to actually break out of the shell and think logically. I'm sure hundreds of readers felt like he's damaged their sense of securty and safety! Muawiyah is an excellent writer and deserves credit for that. Writers like him are supposed to attack our way of thinking and challenge us to expand our horizons a bit. He has forced hundreds (maybe thousands) of readers to step back, think, and have an opinion. Myself, I prefer that alcohol be banned off the face of earth, but since it's already legal and available in Oman, then let the Omanis buy it, take it home and not be out drunk driving on the streets!
  • muscati
    Then again, if Omanis are allowed to buy alcohol and consume it at home, they'd be drinking in front of their kids and being bad examples. Worse, they'll be getting drunk at home and getting abusive to their wives and kids. Maybe it is better having them drink it outside ;)
  • blewyn
    What's needed is safe, reliable and affordable taxis home.
  • So if people are really outraged by what Mouaiyah says, why not stop reading for him!
    I did long time back, mainly because i feel it is all look-at-me posts. maybe they are not, but it wont do me any good reading something i dislike and wont agree with.
  • Amna, I also unfollow or unsubscribe from stuff I don't like, but concept of choice and freedom to let others be, still doesn't seem like an option to the majority of commentators in Arabic forums. They think Muawiyah should be banned and not allowed to write such topics.
  • karimhabsi
    Muscati

    Drinking in pubs does not make you sober when you come home, I agree with Muawiah in that alcohol sale should be completely legalised.
  • Said
    Why the double standards of allowing the expat to buy from liquor store but not the Omanis, yet both allowed drinking in pubs was the subject of Muawia’s post. Nothing to do with Halal and Haram. In fact there is no question about alcohol consumption being Haram. However, the post made sense. I always ask myself why Omanis should be allowed to drink in pubs but not allowed to buy alcohol from liquor stores. This is taking advantage of the locals and only serves the owners of the pubs. If Omanis will be allowed to by alcohol from stores most of them won’t be going to pubs. The reason is high cost of drinks, crapy service and to avoid drinking and driving. It will also stop people from buying alcohol through black market which is against the law and can be a health issue due to questionable alcohol source and quality.
    If it is a moral issue (Halal vs. Haram) then the person who wrote 12 page comments should have addressed his criticism to the authorities for allowing alcohol to be consumed from the first place.

    Muscati,
    If a person is abusive, Omani or non Omani, then it won’t matter if he drinks at home or in a pub. At the end of the day he will have to go back home. In fact drinking outside will put him in a danger for drinking and driving.
  • Name
    What we need to understand is that Oman is a country with a vast majority of people rooted deep in islamic culture. There are many things about westernization that contradict islamic culture. Now, that doesn't mean that those things are bad, they just contradict islamic culture, that's all. It further means that Oman needs to find a balance between these two cultural currents, especially as industrialization and development in these past two centuries require the adoption of the western socio-economic model, with its accompanying baggage of cultural issues. We are finding these half-hearted attempts to resolve these in the proposal of islamic models of banking, islamic models of economy, etc.

    What the omani leadership has always done is to not attempt to reconcile the differences, as in my opinion that would require more effort than Oman can expend (besides no single muslim country has even begun to achieve that!). Instead of attempting reconcilation of these two currents, the government has always attempted to delicately balance these while going forward, in the process ensuring peace and socio-economic development. I'm not sure whether there is any clear vision as to where it will end, because I feel that unless the two currents are integrated into a new model, either one current will have to finally prevail or our beautiful country will become a battleground for these two currents. I am not sure what the way forward could be or what integration of these currents would look like. However, I invite all, instead of looking at the symptoms of the clash, to appreciate the roots of the problems and open discussions on possible futures for Oman. The country will need all the help it can get to ensure a prosperous and peaceful future. In my opinion, the matter is more serious than most people would agree.

    peace and I propose a noble prize to whoever invented the term wastafarian!!!!
  • Hi every one. I just saw this post and its lovely comments. What I really tried to say that I wanted only to say what I believe in like others who say the same. What really provoked me is actually an article written by one of the religious asking to close all bars in Oman and Sabla people put it there (موه يعني تثبيت؟؟؟) for a long time so I wrote that piece directly for the government to say very obvious ideas:
    1- Alcohol is a known fact since a long time and any one can read what British travelrs wrote about it.
    2- If you let be in Oman why do people have to bye from bar owners who are so close to ghe government?
    3- I am pro selling alcohol in Oman and i don't hide it.


    I really whish to know how to tell you what i wanted to say but my English so bad. They took it the wrong way and what provoked me and made me mad that they let all those commenters attack me and even my dad and family just to justify that they want to (Hear what people say). No one got the point that I am against all these rich people who are really using thousands of Omanis and benefiting from them because the have no place else to go. I prefer to give the the choice either it is alcohol or and other good product of service. Do you get me??? It seems that no one do ........

    As Mascati say, it is not new, and many people think the seem, but i learned my lesson. It is not really the place for posts in forums, and i think i will never put any post again in Sabla or any other forum.

    Thank you all, and sorry for my broken English.
  • Yo Muawiya you're here finally ;p
    You should read ian gardiner book on dhofari war
    When brits went to Salalah they noticed they dhofaris were producing whiskey, so they were surprised and asked how they could do something so haram
    They replied that alcohol existed long before Muhammad came, so what they were doing was not a bad thing after all
    Wisdom of the southlanders :-)
    Your solution is practical and maybe can help a little bit but after some time it will bring more problems
    You're entitled to your views but remember that the environment you're living in and speaking to, is Muslim by religion and bit intolerant by tradition
    So next time you shoot [but am sure you're smart enough to know], put the consequences into account
  • Muawiyah, I believe the majority of people reading this blog understood your message.

    The term "tathbeet" could be translated in English as "to make a thread a sticky".
  • sh2009
    I have been out of the blogging scene for a while but I'm so happy to come back and find so many open minded people who are actually unafraid to say something that -heaven forbid- doesn't echo what all the sheep have to say! Moawiya stay strong and your efforts on this matter are appreciated. Let me add my vote as an Omani that I think there shouldn't be any hypocrisy when it comes to selling alcohol to Omani's I don't see why we should be discriminated against in our own country! I find it insulting and offensive that any given Omani adult has to find an expat to bribe/coerce in order to be able to buy alcohol for consumption at home. Its pretty pathetic. I am really sorry that Moawyia had to take the brunt of all the BS the idiots at Sabla threw at him but I hope that doesn't discourage him from speaking his mind in the future. After all that is what blogging is about! Nadia, Blu Chi, Balqis I find your comments refreshing...especially Nadia who is actually religious but still doesn't feel the need to suffocate those around her! Good for you!
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