Oman, Middle East

Oman is on the southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula.The country also contains Madha, an exclave enclosed by the United Arab Emirates, and Musandam, an exclave also separated by Emirati territory. There are no legal political parties nor, at present, any active opposition movement. Omani citizens enjoy good living standards, but the future is uncertain with Oman's limited oil reserves. Homosexuality in the Sultanate of Oman is illegal according to Paragrpah 32 of the penal code and can be punished with a jail sentence of up to 3 years. In Oman it is said that cases only get to court if "public scandal" is involved. There is reportedly some acceptance of men who dress in accepted traditional styles of men and women. These androgen men called 'xanith' can more easily cross the otherwise strict borders between the genders.