In separate cases that reveal a pattern across the Gulf region, authorities in Oman and Kuwait continue to target human rights defenders and journalists in by using the judiciary in trials that lack international standards for fair trial and due process.

In Oman, on 19 September 2016, Judge Saeed Ombosaeedy of the Court of First Instance in Muscat, adjourned the final hearing in the case of three journalists of “Azamn” newspaper, Ibrahim Al-Maamari, Yousef Al-Haj, and Zaher Al-Abri to 26 September 2016.

In addition, the Court of Appeal in Oman rejected journalist Yousef Al-Haj’s application to replace Judge Ombosaeedy, due to his use of inappropriate language against the journalist and furthermore the Court of Appeal fined Al-Haj an amount of RO 500 (US $1330) in accordance with Article 149 of the Omani Penal Code for raising such a request.

For more information about the trial of the “Azamn” journalists, please see:
https://www.gc4hr.org/news/index/country/6

In Kuwait, the judge of the Misdemeanors Appeal Court rejected the appeal against sentence of human rights defender Abdul Hakim Al-Fadhli on charges of gathering and participating in a peaceful demonstration and assembly. The judge confirmed the sentence of one year in prison with labour, to be followed by deportation from his country.

Reports received by the Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) confirm that there is a hearing in another case against Al-Fadhli on 26 September 2016 on a charge related to the staging of a demonstration in 2012 demanding the rights of the Bedoon community in Kuwait.

Abdulhakim Al-Fadhli told the GCHR that he will attend the hearing on 26 September. He stated, “I will serve the 8 months remaining from one year prison sentence but I will never give my consent to deportation.”

For more information about the case against Al-Fadhli, see: https://www.gc4hr.org/news/index/country/7

The GCHR denounces the ongoing detention of journalists of the “Azamn” journalists, Ibrahim Al-Maamari, Yousef Al-Haj, and their trial together with colleague Zahir Al-Abri. It denounces the ongoing and direct targeting of the defender of the rights of Bedoon community, Abdehakim Al-Fadhli. The GCHR calls on the authorities in Oman and Kuwait to cease these violations immediately and to drop all charges against, Ibrahim Al-Maamari, Yousef Al-Haj, Zaher Al-Abri, and Abdulhakim Al-Fadhli. The Authorities should instead support and protect them so as to enable them to perform their peaceful and legitimate human rights work to the fullest.