Prominent human rights defender Saeed Jadad released, while journalist Yousef Al-Haj begins hunger strike
27/08/2016
The Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) has received news that on 26 August 2016, prominent Omani human rights defender Saeed Jadad was released after serving a one-year prison sentence.
On 25 November 2015, state security forces raided Jadad’s home, detained and transferred him to Arzat prison in the city of Salalah. The arrest followed ratification by the Court of Appeal in Salalah on 18 November of the sentence issued by the Court of First Instance, of a one -year prison term and a fine of 1000 Omani Rials (2600 US$). Jadad was convicted on charges of the alleged “use of an information network (the Internet) in the dissemination of material that would prejudice public order,” by the Court of First Instance on 07 April 2015. See: https://www.gc4hr.org/news/view/1266
Jadad is a long-standing, prominent human rights defender in Oman. He was instrumental in organizing and leading pro-reform protests in Dhofar in 2011 and has spoken publicly to crowds of up to 20,000 people. He is an active blogger and has signed several petitions calling for reform in Oman. He has also been active in seeking information in relation to the death of his son who died 17 years ago in Sultan Qaboos Hospital in Salalah.
In another separate case, reports received by GCHR confirm that journalist Yousef Al-Haj, Editorial Secretary of the newspaper “Azamn”, began on 22 August 2016 a hunger strike to protest the poor conditions of his detention at the Special Division of the Omani Police General Command in Muscat. He is also demanding a fair trial.
On 09 August 2016, the Internal Security Service (ISS) arrested Al-Haj, who was serving as the Acting Editor-in-Chief of the newspaper following the arrest of its Editor-in-Chief Ibrahim Al-Maamari, who is currently in jail. For more on the case, see https://www.gc4hr.org/news/view/1341
On 07 August 2016, Al-Haj published on his Facebook page an image which referred to the newspaper possessing “an official documents file that condemns Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Isaac Al-Busaidi, and those with influence who ordered him to disrupt judicial decisions.” He said: “I demand protection from this hour.” He has already been previously targeted in September 2011 and sentenced to five months in prison for insulting the Minister and the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Justice.
While welcoming the decision to release a prominent human rights defender, Saeed Jadad, GCHR once again expresses grave concern at the continued detention of Ibrahim Al-Maamari and Yousef Al-Haj, as well as the closure of the newspaper “Azamn”. GCHR believes their arrest is putting freedom of the press at risk in the country.
For more information about the case of the closure of “Azamn” newspaper and the targeting of its journalists, please see: https://www.gc4hr.org/news/index/country/6
GCHR urges the authorities in Oman to:
- Drop the charges against the three “Azamn” journalists, Ibrahim Al-Maamari, Yousef Al-Haj and Zahir Al-Abri;
- Release Ibrahim Al-Maamari and Yousef Al-Haj, revoke the decision to close “Azamn” newspaper, and protect freedom of the press in the country; and
- Guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders including journalists, writers and on-line 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.
