The Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) mourns with deep sorrow the passing of Nabhan Al-Hanshi, 45, a prominent Omani writer and human rights defender, well-known in the Arab region’s human rights community, who passed away on 18 April 2026.

Al-Hanshi was born in the Wilayat of Ja’alan Bani Bu Hassan, Oman, on 14 November 1980, and died after a long battle with cancer. Ja’alan Bani Bu Hassan is located in the South Sharqiyah Governorate of the Sultanate of Oman and is a prominent historical and cultural centre.

In December 2025, he decided to return to his family in Ja’alan after 14 years of living abroad, mostly spent in the United Kingdom. During his time in exile, he founded the Omani Centre for Human Rights and Democracy, which began operating in 2013 and was officially registered in the United Kingdom in 2017. The Centre diligently, honestly, and objectively documented human rights violations in Oman.

Nabhan Al-Hanshi and his Centre were key partners of GCHR, and together they accomplished many important human rights activities.

Khalid Ibrahim, Executive Director of GCHR, said, “With the passing of Nabhan, we have lost a courageous, conscious, and cultured individual who possessed unwavering humanitarian principles.” He added, “He was a dear colleague, exceptionally kind-hearted, and his absence has left a void that no one can fill. He will remain in our memories forever.”

We at GCHR deeply value everything that writer Nabhan Al-Hanshi contributed to us, to human rights, and to freedom of the press in the region, and we will miss him greatly. We also thank the Omani government for facilitating his return home and providing him with medical care. Our condolences to everyone, especially his family, colleagues, and loved ones.