Oman: UPDATE: OMAN: Court adjourns hearings of “Azamn” journalists and writer Hamood Al-Shukaily, denying him bail, while journalists freed

On 10 October 2016, the Omani Appeal Court chaired by Sheikh Mukhtar Al-Harthy held its first hearing in the case against three journalists of “Azamn” newspaper, Ibrahim Al-Maamari, Yousef Al-Haj, and Zaher Al-Abri. At the beginning of the hearing the court decided to ban the publication and circulation of the details of the hearing in all forms of media, according to information received by the Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR).

After deliberation, the court decided to reduce the bail for Al-Maamari and Al-Haj at the request of their lawyer, from 50,000 OMR (approx. USD$130,000) to 2,000 OMR (approx. USD$5200). The two journalists were then freed. Al-Abri had already been conditionally freed on 22 August.

On 26 September 2016, the Court of First Instance sentenced Al-Maamari and Al-Haj to three years in prison and Al-Abri to one year, in addition to ordering the permanent closure of the Azamn newspaper on charges related to the publication of a story about judicial corruption. See: https://www.gc4hr.org/news/view/1382

In a separate case, on 27 September 2016, a second hearing took place for writer Hamood Al-Shukaily, on charges of alleged "incitement to protest," during which the court refused to release Al-Shukaily on bail. The judge did not allow defense lawyer Yakoob Al-Harthi to talk on behalf of the defendant. The court adjourned the trial to 27 October.

Al-Shukaily reportedly decided to start a hunger strike on 28 September protesting what he called his “unjustified arrest.”

Reports received by GCHR confirm that the trial is being held in accordance with Article 19 of the Information Technology Crimes Act. He is charged under this law in relation to a poem he posted on his Facebook page. For more information, see: https://www.gc4hr.org/news/view/1363

GCHR reiterates its call for the Omani authorities to:

1. Revoke the sentences issued against journalists Ibrahim Al-Maamari, Yousef Al-Haj and Zaher Al-Abri;
2. Immediately and unconditionally release writer Hamood Al-Shukaily and drop all charges against him in violation of his right to free expression;
3. Revoke the closure order of "Azamn" newspaper by the Ministry of Information; and
4. Guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders including journalists, writers and online activists in Oman are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions including judicial harassment.