Bassam Bdullah Abu-Qasida is an Omani human rights defender and activist who has been targeted by the authorities for his peaceful advocacy. He is one of a group of activists and human rights defenders sentenced to prison in 2012 for exercising their right to freedom of expression, assembly, and association. Alongside others, he was charged with “defaming the Sultan,” “violating the cyber law,” “unlawful assembly,” and “disturbing public order.” His imprisonment followed the rulings of the Appeals Court in December 2012, which upheld sentences of between six months and one year that had been handed down earlier that year by the Muscat Court of First Instance.  On 9 February 2013, while serving his sentence in Samail Central Prison, Abu-Qasida joined 23 other defenders and activists in launching a hunger strike. The strike protested the authorities’ delay in issuing rulings on their appeals before the Supreme Court. Reports confirmed that the health of several strikers, including Abu-Qasida, deteriorated seriously. Abu-Qasida was therefore transferred to the prison clinic for treatment.