Muscat: Oman could soon implement a law for dressing modestly while in public.
The rules, which were drawn up by the city’s Municipal Committee and submitted to the Municipal Council, will be submitted to the Minister of the Diwan of Royal Court for approval.
Applying to both men and women, the rules affect those visiting malls in Muscat wearing sleeveless shirts and shorts.
This means those in violation could face fines of up to OMR 300, and jail terms of up to three months.
“The terms of dressing modestly have not been specified in great detail, but must include covering the body from the shoulder to below the knee," Muscat Municipal Council Public Affairs Committee chairman Qais bin Mohammed Al Ma’shari told the Times of Oman.
“This clothing must not also violate the terms of modesty by ensuring it properly covers the required parts of the body, should not be revealing, and not having any sensitive drawings or illustrations on them,” he added.
“Wearing a veil, however, is not included in the concept of dressing modestly, because of the multiculturalism, ideologies, and religious tolerance in the Sultanate.”
“The rules will be the same for residents in the country, as they are for Omanis,” explained Al Ma’shari.
“As part of this decision, males and females will not be allowed to wear shorts above the knee, as well as sleeveless shirts that expose the chest and shoulders.”
The rules were drafted after the municipal committees, mall managers and shop owners received a number of complaints from members of the public about people not following proper dress codes.
&uuid=(email))