اخبار سلطنة عُمان – وطن نيوز
اخر اخبار سلطنة عُمان اليوم – اخبار سلطنة عُمان العاجلة
W6nnews.com ==== وطن === تاريخ النشر – 2026-03-24 14:21:00
Dialogue – Noura Al-Abri The importance of legal awareness lies in protecting society, preserving rights, and regulating relations between its members. Between signing an important contract without knowing its details, or sharing content without awareness of its consequences, the truth of “ignorance of the law does not exempt from responsibility” is evident as a principle and pillar that maintains order and achieves justice. In this context, “Oman” interviewed His Eminence Judge Saif bin Abdullah Al-Hosani, Assistant Secretary-General for Court Affairs and Notary Public, and the following is the text of the dialogue: What does the principle of “ignorance of the law” mean? Does not relieve responsibility? This principle means that a person cannot escape legal responsibility simply by saying that he did not know of the existence of the legal provision or that he did not know that his act was criminal or in violation. Once the law was issued and published in the official prescribed manner, it became binding on everyone, and the legislator assumed everyone knew about it. In the Sultanate of Oman, this meaning is confirmed by the rule of publication in the Official Gazette, as the Official Gazette Law stipulates that publication is “a presumption that everyone is aware of it and no evidence to the contrary is accepted,” according to the text of Article (5) of the law, which stipulates that “laws, royal decrees of a legislative nature, and regulations shall be effective from the date of their publication in the Official Gazette or its appendices unless another date is stipulated in it, and publication is considered a presumption that everyone is aware of it and no evidence to the contrary is accepted.”, as the system decided. The basic principle for the state is that laws are published in the Official Gazette and come into effect from the date of their publication unless another date is stipulated. According to the text of Article (91) of the Basic Law of the State. What is the legal basis on which this principle is based? The legal basis for this principle in the Sultanate of Oman is based on two clear pillars: official publication, Article [5] From the Official Gazette Law, it is stipulated that laws, royal decrees of a legislative nature, and regulations shall be effective from the date of their publication, and that this publication is considered evidence of everyone’s knowledge of them, in addition to their entry into force after publication. Article [91] The Basic Law of the State stipulates that laws shall be published in the Official Gazette within two weeks from the day of their issuance, and shall be effective from the date of their publication unless another date is stipulated. Hence, the legislator did not link the obligation to the actual knowledge of each individual, but rather linked it to the official publication that achieves the ruling knowledge. How does this principle contribute to maintaining order and justice? This principle maintains order and justice; Because it prevents chaos in law enforcement. If it were left to every person to use his ignorance of the texts as an excuse, the implementation of the laws would become obstructed, and every violator would be able to use the excuse of his lack of knowledge to escape accountability. This principle also achieves equality before the law. It does not distinguish between one person and another according to their level of culture or knowledge, and it enhances legal stability because people know that the published rules are effective and binding on everyone from the time they come into effect. This understanding is consistent with the philosophy of official publication adopted by the Omani legislator as a basis for public obligation. Why is ignorance of the law not considered an excuse for committing violations? Because the law cannot perform its function if compliance with it depends on the personal knowledge of each individual. Knowledge is an internal matter that is difficult to verify, and if this excuse were accepted, it would turn into a wide door to escape responsibility. Therefore, the Omani legislator considered that publication in the Official Gazette is legally sufficient to presume knowledge. This means that responsibility is not based on whether the person actually read the text, but rather on whether the text became effective, available, and announced according to the path set by the law. What are the most prominent cases or violations that people commit due to their ignorance of the law? There is no real limit to this crime, but the practical reality has highlighted a number of cases in which knowledge of the law might have been present if the number of them had changed in the courts. Among the most prominent cases or common violations that some people commit in the Sultanate of Oman is insult and defamation, whether in direct reality or through technical means, even though the Penal Code punishes public insult in Article [327]The Law on Combating Information Technology Crimes also punishes assaulting the sanctity of private life or assaulting others by insulting or slandering using the information network or information technology means in Article [16]. From the law, in addition to photographing or publishing that violates privacy; The Law on Combating Information Technology Crimes punishes taking pictures or publishing news or recordings related to private or family life, even if they are true, when this is done illegally by technical means. Using a hand-held phone while driving, which is a prohibited act according to the Traffic Law, and collecting money from the public without a license in cases where the law or regulations require official approvals, in addition to personal data violations, as the Personal Data Protection Law requires ensuring its confidentiality and not publishing it except with the prior approval of its owner. Does society witness common practices that indicate weak legal awareness? What is it? Yes, and there are recurring images that reflect this, the most prominent of which are: circulating pictures or clips of people or incidents without permission, publishing statements in social media groups that some people think are “indecent” when they may involve insult or defamation, such as using a phone while driving as a simple matter despite its criminalization, or sharing personal data or commercial advertisements without fulfilling legal controls. And insulting government agencies and government employees under the pretext of freedom of expression, disclosing classified official documents through social media platforms and applications, republishing violating content on social media platforms, and circulating audio and video clips of rumors that were produced by artificial intelligence on the claim that he did not produce them. These behaviors reveal that the problem in many cases is not the criminal intent to begin with, but rather the weakness of the daily legal culture. This proposal reinforces what official and media authorities in the Sultanate of Oman have noted that community awareness represents the first line of defense in the face of rumors and misleading information, especially with the great acceleration in the circulation of content across digital platforms. What is the role of government agencies in educating society about the laws? The role of government agencies is fundamental and pivotal, and this is represented by disseminating laws, regulations and decisions through official channels, simplifying legal texts in a clear language that non-specialists can understand, in addition to launching awareness campaigns related to realistic legal risks such as rumours, human trafficking, data protection, digital violations, and digital platform crimes, in addition to providing digital services and legal information that facilitate people’s access to texts and controls. Official reports have shown the existence of national awareness campaigns in multiple fields, such as The campaigns of the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking were highlighted, and judicial initiatives aimed at consolidating legal awareness and a culture of reconciliation were highlighted, including the efforts of the Supreme Judicial Council, for example, and the #WithAwarenessWeSolveIt initiative. How can schools, universities, and the media enhance legal awareness? They can do so by transforming legal awareness from an elite subject into daily life knowledge. Schools can instill the concepts of rights, duties, and respect for the system from the early stages, and universities can introduce courses or activities that familiarize students with the legislation related to their lives. Especially in the digital environment. As for the media, their role is to explain the law in simple language, and to link legal texts to daily facts so that people understand their practical impact. Press and community materials in the Sultanate of Oman have indicated the importance of integrating the concepts of rights and duties into classroom activities, and that legal culture is necessary to prepare a generation aware of the public interest, in addition to the role of the mosque by benefiting from short lessons after prayers, exploiting social media platforms and supporting individual initiatives that aim to implant legal culture in society, as is the case with the Oman Legal Network initiative. What is the role of social media in spreading knowledge of laws? Social media today is a double-edged sword; They may be a gateway to the spread of violations if they are used to insult, defame, spread rumours, invade privacy, or violate public order. However, on the other hand, they are considered one of the most powerful means of spreading legal awareness if used professionally. These means are characterized by quick access and their ability to simplify legal messages in the form of short clips, designs, and realistic examples. It also enables official bodies and legal professionals to reach wide segments, especially young people. However, its success depends on the accuracy of the content and its connection to official sources. Because the digital environment itself, if it is not dealt with professionally, is a reason to be involved in criminal violations according to the Law on Combating Information Technology Crimes, whenever its use turns into abuse. Are there successful initiatives or awareness campaigns in this field? Yes, in the Sultanate of Oman there are clear models that can be relied upon, including the national campaigns launched by the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking, such as the “Insan” campaign, which aimed to spread awareness of the concepts of crime and ways to prevent it. In addition to the “Barwa” judicial initiative, which was described as an initiative to consolidate legal awareness and a culture of reconciliation, in addition to sectoral government awareness campaigns that inform the public of the laws related to economic activity and the regulatory environment. In addition to the Oman Legal Network initiative, which contributes significantly to introducing the law in simple and easy language using graphic materials and films, these initiatives confirm that legal awareness in the Sultanate of Oman is no longer a marginal activity, but rather has become part of organized institutional and awareness work. How can an individual access the laws that interest him and know his rights and duties? The individual can access the laws through several practical paths, the most important of which is the Official Gazette, which is the source of publication and the official reference for the enforcement of laws and is available through the website of the Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs, in addition to government portals such as Oman Digital, which provides access to policies, laws and regulations. In addition to the legal websites that collect texts, it is always better for a person to start with the official source, then use compilation websites or legal explanations for understanding and interpretation. What advice can be given to avoid falling into legal violations? It can be said that legal prevention begins with awareness, as many of the violations that occur in society do not necessarily arise from criminal intent, as much as they are the result of poor knowledge and awareness of the legal texts and controls that regulate public behavior. One of the most prominent pieces of advice that can be used to avoid falling into a legal violation is the need to be responsible when dealing with social media, by not publishing or re-publishing any image, recording, or information related to others before verifying the legality of its circulation, as this may entail an infringement on private life or a violation of the sanctity of privacy guaranteed by the law, in addition to being aware that insult and defamation do not require it to be in an explicit or direct form, but rather it may also be achieved through suggestive or suggestive expressions. Insinuations from which you understand abuse, which is known in legal jurisprudence as misconduct. It is also not required that the name of the intended person be mentioned explicitly, as it is sufficient for his personality to be understood from the circumstances of the incident or the context in which the phrases were mentioned. Some people believe that they are immune from accountability simply because the name is not mentioned explicitly, which is a belief that is incorrect from a legal standpoint. A distinction must also be made between freedom of expression guaranteed by law, and defamation, abuse, or violation of public order. Objective, purposeful criticism aimed at reform is different from challenge, defamation, or spreading accusations without evidence. Also, spreading rumors or circulating unreliable news, especially in light of the rapid political and economic transformations the world is witnessing, may be exploited to spread agendas or create confusion in society, which requires awareness and responsibility, in addition to referring to legal texts or competent authorities before engaging in any activity that requires a license or permit, whether it is a commercial or media activity, fundraising, or other activities regulated by law with specific controls, and respecting the privacy of personal data and not circulating, using, or disseminating it. Except in accordance with the controls established by law, due to the importance that data protection represents in preserving individual rights and preserving privacy, and making sure to obtain information from official sources, especially in times of crises or exceptional events, and avoiding the circulation of unreliable news, pictures, or clips that may contribute to spreading rumors or misleading public opinion. When there is confusion or doubt about a legal issue, it is wise to refer to a legal professional or a competent official body instead of personal diligence; Some actions may result in criminal, civil, or administrative liability without the person realizing it in the first place.
