MONDAY May 9, 2016 2 Sha’aban 1437 AH
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FROM THE WORDS OF HIS MAJESTY THE SULTAN
To the People, 1975
‘His Majesty’s Wisdom’ We aim to extend education throughout the Sultanate so that everyone may have the chance to study according to his abilities. We are also working on a plan to eradicate illiteracy and we are focusing our attention particularly on vocational and higher education so that we can meet the country’s needs for trained Omani manpower.
Founded 1975 . Volume 41 No. 66
| 40 Pages . Baisas 200 . Subscription OMR63 | ISO 9001:2008 Certified Company | Chairman/Editor-in-Chief: Mohamed Issa Al Zadjali | Printed & Published by Muscat Media Group
UNEXPECTED RECEPTION
TOP THREE INSIDE STORIES
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Omani handcuffed after being denied entry into the US
‘Start shopping now, avoid Ramadan rush’
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To avoid rush and long queues in front of cashiers’ windows at shopping centres, the Public Authority for Consumer Protection (PACP) has called on the public in the Sultanate to begin their shopping for the holy month of Ramadan right away. >A6
TARIQ ZIAD AL HAREMI
tariqh@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: After enduring a 16hour flight from Muscat to the United States, an Omani woman’s reception was unexpected. Denied entry to the US, she had been subjected to questioning and frisked, until finally being handcuffed and flown back to the Sultanate in January 2016. Mohra Al Zubair spoke with Times of Oman to tell her tale. Mohra travelled to Boston, Massachusetts to attend a seminar, for which she would receive university credits, but after the long flight she was not welcomed by US immigration officers due to her presenting an improper visa. “I previously travelled to Boston for the same purpose and was welcomed by the US immigration officer,” said Mohra, adding that she travelled with the same tourist/business visa issued by the US Embassy in Oman. “After the immigration officer questioned me, she told me to stand by the wall; my course required further inspection. “After standing by the wall, the officer told me that I would be escorted downstairs to a secondary
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Mohra Al Zubair
inspection,” she explained. During the secondary inspection, officers searched her belongings and questioned her about the purpose of the visit, as they later determined, she would not be admitted because she did not have the correct visa for attending credited courses. “I stated my position again and made clear to them that I consulted before coming and faced no issues when I previously came in for the same purpose,” said Mohra, adding that the officers said they could not do anything about the issue, claiming that their “hands were tied.” >A6
Mobile app that honours HM wins first prize
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Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi schools sometimes wait for months at a stretch to secure visas School authorities must take up the issue with the relevant directorates, said a Ministry of Manpower spokesperson TURN TO >A5
Proposal for law to protect patients
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Patients and their rights are currently in the spotlight as the Majlis Al Shura studies a proposal to introduce a special law to protect them because it has been found that they are often left in the dark when refused treatment or are given the wrong treatment. >A7
SPORTS
Oman pro football on right path: Al Busaidi
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Success of the 2015-16 soccer season has proved that professional football in the Sultanate of Oman is on the right path, according to Oman Football Association (OFA) chairman Sayyid Khalid bin Hamad Al Busaidi. >C1
MORNING MINUTE