On 04 May 2016, Omani authorities released writer, cinema critic and online activist Abdullah Habib from prison by order of Sultan Qaboos. Other human rights defenders remain in jail.

On 15 April 2016, Habib was summoned by the Omani Internal Security Service (ISS) to appear for investigation before the Special Division of the Omani Police General Command in the capital, Muscat. He was immediately detained incommunicado by the Special Division which represents the executive arm of the ISS.

Reports received by the Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) confirmed that no charges were brought against Habib and he appears to have been targeted due to his writings on facebook in which he defended the people’s rights in Oman.

While the GCHR welcomes the release of Habib, it calls on the authorities in Oman to immediately release from prison prominent human rights defender Saeed Jadad and writer, broadcaster and online activist Sulaiman Al-Moamari, who are also detained in violation of their rights to freedom of expression.

For more information about recent human rights violations committed by the ISS, including the two cases of Jadad and Al-Moamari, see the following link: 

https://www.gc4hr.org/news/index/country/6