On 22 February 2015, the fourth hearing of the trial of prominent defender of human rights Saed Jadad was held before the Court of First Instance in Muscat, during which the Public Prosecution directed a number of serious charges against him.

The following charges have been made against Jadad:
1. Undermining the country’s position and prestige.
2. Calling for gathering.
3. Incitement against the government and public order disruption in relation to his publications on social media networks, such as celebrating the anniversary of 25 February 2011, when protests erupted in Salalah, as well as a letter he sent to U.S. President Barack Obama.

In the letter to Obama, dated 31 May 2013, Jadad appealed for support to improve human rights in Oman and other Gulf countries.

Jadad committed to silence during the hearing and did not address the questions from the judge. The trial was adjourned to 8 March 2015, when a verdict is expected.

Reports confirm that although he is in a bad health, he is still kept in solitary confinement at the notorious special division of the Omani police in Muscat.

It is worth mentioning that there is another case that Jadad faces before the Court of First Instance in Salalah, to be held on 3 March 2015, on charges of violating the Information Technology Act.

The Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR), in a letter to the Sultan of Oman Qaboos, appealed for the charges to be dropped and for the immediate release of Jadad. To read the letter, please see the following link:

https://www.gc4hr.org/news/view/912

The GCHR condemns the ongoing arrest of Saed Jadad, which it believes is solely related to his legitimate and peaceful human rights activities.

The GCHR calls on the Omani government to:

1. Release human rights defender Saed Jadad immediately and unconditionally;
2. Grant Saed Jadad immediate and unfettered access to his family and lawyer;
3. Guarantee the physical and psychological integrity and security of Saed Jadad; and
4. Guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders in Oman are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free from all restrictions including judicial harassment.

The GCHR respectfully reminds the Omani authorities that the UN Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, adopted by consensus by the UN General Assembly on 9 December 1998, recognises the legitimacy of the activities of human rights defenders, their right to freedom of association and to carry out their activities without fear of reprisals. We would particularly draw your attention to Article 6 (c): “Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others: (c) To study, discuss, form and hold opinions on the observance, both in law and in practice, of all human rights and fundamental freedoms and, through these and other appropriate means, to draw public attention to those matters;” and to Article 12.2, which provides that “the State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the present Declaration.”