Hatem Al-Maliki is an Omani human rights defender, blogger, and online activist known for his outspoken criticism of government policies and advocacy on regional and international human rights issues, including support for the Palestinian cause. He has been a prominent voice on social media, using platforms such as Facebook and Twitter to express his views and mobilize public awareness. Al-Maliki has faced repeated harassment and detention by Omani authorities due to his activism. He was first arrested on 24 June 2012 on charges of “insulting the Sultan” and released on bail on 27 August 2012. His trial continued until it was suspended following an amnesty issued by Sultan Qaboos in 2013. On 15 March 2013, Al-Maliki was summoned by the Omani Internal Security Service and subsequently detained incommunicado, with no access to his family or lawyer. He was later released on 19 March 2013, with his case referred to the public prosecutor’s office. 

On 06 December 2018, Al-Maliki was summoned by the Special Division of the Omani Police Command in Sohar State. He was arbitrarily detained upon his arrival and held incommunicado without any access to his family or a lawyer. The reasons for his detention are related to his posts on social media networks  criticising Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Muscat in October and rejecting normalisation between Oman and Israel, as well as for his support for the Palestinian cause.