Despite the release of all citizens who were arrested with him in June 2024, the Omani authorities are still detaining Dr. Ali Amer Al-Mashani solely for leading the Eid Al-Adha prayer according to the Mecca calendar.

On 20 August 2024, the Court of Appeal in the district of Salalah, the capital and largest city of Dhofar Governorate, issued the following rulings:

Dr. Ali Amer Al-Mashani was convicted by the court on two charges, namely leading the Eid Al-Adha prayer, and publishing material that would incite religious and sectarian strife and discord among the country’s residents. He was sentenced to two years in prison, six months of which will be served from the date of his arrest, which took place on 16 June 2024. He is currently being held in the Arzat Central Prison in Salalah.

Dr. Ahmed Masoud Al-Mashani was convicted of publishing material that would incite religious and sectarian strife and discord among the country’s residents. He was sentenced to two years in prison, and his mobile phone was confiscated, with the period he spent in prison since his arrest considered to be sufficient, thus he was released and ordered to pay the legal expenses. The court also decided to acquit him of the misdemeanour of using information technology to publish material that would harm public order.

Tariq Saeed Muhad Al-Omari was convicted of publishing material that would incite religious and sectarian strife and discord among the country’s residents. He was sentenced to two years in prison, and his mobile phone was confiscated. However, he was only required to spend three months in prison from the date of his arrest, so he was released after serving his sentence and ordered to pay the legal expenses. The court also acquitted him of the misdemeanour of using information technology to publish material that would harm public order.

Saeed Salem Ali Al-Mashani was convicted of publishing material that would incite religious and sectarian strife and discord among the country’s residents. He was sentenced to two years in prison and his mobile phone was confiscated, with the period he spent in prison since his arrest considered to be sufficient, thus he was released and ordered to pay the legal expenses. 

Saeed Mohammed Issa Al-Mashani was convicted of holding a meeting that would incite religious and sectarian strife and discord among the country’s residents. He was sentenced to two years in prison, with the period he spent in prison since his arrest considered to be sufficient, thus he was released and ordered to pay the legal expenses.

Mahmoud Saeed Al-Mashani was convicted of publishing material that would incite religious and sectarian strife and discord among the country’s residents. He was sentenced to two years in prison, with the period he spent in prison since his arrest considered to be sufficient, thus he was released and ordered to pay the legal expenses.   

They were targeted for arrest under direct orders from the Internal Security Service solely because they performed the Eid Al-Adha prayer according to the Mecca calendar, on 16 June 2024, contrary to the government announcement that declared 17 June 2024 as the first day of Eid. False charges were brought against them after they were referred to a trial that lacked the minimum international standards for a fair trial and legal procedures.

For more details on the history of their arrest and the details of the case, see the Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR)’ previous appeal issued on 09 July 2024.

GCHR once again condemns in the strongest terms all these arbitrary arrests and sham trials carried out by the authorities of innocent citizens who exercised their right to perform prayers at a time that was consistent with their religious beliefs.

GCHR further calls on the Omani government to release Dr. Ali Amer Al-Mashani immediately and drop all charges against him, and not to target him and his colleagues in the future. GCHR also calls on the Internal Security Service to cease its repressive policies and ensure the protection of citizens’ public freedoms.