Oman is the safest and most secure country against terrorist threats, according to the Global Terrorism Index 2015 released by the Economics and Peace Institute. Oman scored a zero — the best possible — followed by Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.
Some analysts attribute this enviable ranking to Oman’s strict laws regulating anything related to extremism and religious intolerance. In 2008, Oman instituted a law that mandates a 10-year jail sentence for anyone involved in terrorism and sectarianism.
Additionally, the country has targeted terrorist financing. In 2011, it signed the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism, and in 2002 established the Combating the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) system to disrupt money laundering.
Omani resident Zakariah Al Mahrami attributes the country’s success to promoting tolerance, Gulf News reported. “Omanis have been closely watching what has been going on in their region, which is in flames, and have been focusing on nation building, away from destruction and conflicts,” said Al Mahrami.
Although the majority of Daesh fighters come from Arabic-speaking nations, few if any Omanis have joined Daesh, an Omani government official confirmed.