Muscat: Exploiting individuals through online magic, sorcery, and charlatanism now carries severe legal penalties in Oman, including prison terms of up to three years. The new legal framework introduces robust deterrents against those who use digital platforms to practice deceptive superstitions or claim supernatural influence to exploit, benefit from, or harm others.
Under Article 39 of the new legislation, anyone who utilizes an electronic site, information system, or information technology tool to engage in acts of magic, sorcery, charlatanism, or superstition—whether real or deceptive, and regardless of whether a fee is charged—with the intent to exploit or harm others, shall face imprisonment for a period ranging from one to three years. Additionally, offenders will be subject to a fine of no less than OMR 300 and no more than OMR 1,000, or one of these two penalties. The law also mandates the mandatory confiscation of all objects and tools used in the commission of these crimes.
Defining prohibited practices
The legislation provides a clear definition of the prohibited acts to ensure comprehensive enforcement. These include:
1. Performing acts or uttering words, or using illicit or rationally unacceptable methods to influence another person's body, heart, mind, or will, directly or indirectly, whether the influence is real or imagined.
2. Deceiving individuals or controlling their senses or hearts by any means to make them perceive things contrary to reality, with the intention of exploiting them or influencing their beliefs or minds.
By criminalizing these digital practices, the law aims to protect the public from fraudulent schemes that leverage belief and superstition for exploitation.
These measures are part of the Law on Combating Cybercrimes, promulgated by Royal Decree No. 61/2026. Issued on June 1, 2026, the law represents a significant step in enhancing Oman's national digital security and protecting society from the growing complexities of cybercrime. Beyond targeting charlatanism, the decree aims to safeguard the confidentiality and integrity of electronic information and data, while strengthening the protection of digital evidence through stricter legal deterrents and tougher penalties for all offenses committed using information technology.
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