Muscat: Oman has banned use of designs and materials of the samples of Omani khanjar without due clearance from relevant authorities.
The khanjar is the traditional dagger of Oman.
Sheikha Aisha Bint Khalfan Al Siyabiah, Chairperson of the Public Authority for Crafts Industries, has issued an order banning the use of designs and materials of the samples of Omani khanjar without the authority’s permission, according to a report in the local Arabic daily ‘Al Watan’.
Anyone violating the order will be punished as per the law of the authority. The decision comes in the light of the government’s efforts to preserve the Omani identity and heritage, says the report.
“The decision is an important step towards the preservation of our national crafts,” the daily quoted Suleiman Bin Hamdan Bin Naser Al Harthi, Director General of Craft Licenses and Protection.
He added that no craftsman or producer will be allowed to use the Omani design samples without the authority’s permission. However, there was no explanation given by the Craft Licenses and Protection department official on the order.
At the same time Al Harthi has appealed to all craftsmen to seek the authority’s permission if they wish to manufacture any product for private use.
