• Human Rights in Oman
    Omani authorities use criminal defamation laws to restrict the right to freedom of expression. They have sentenced dozens of pro-reform activists to between 12 and 18 months’ imprisonment and substantial fines on the charge of “defaming the Sultan.” Authorities also restrict the freedoms of association and assembly, both in law and in practice. Oman’s mostly elected Shura Council exercised limited legislative and oversight powers for the first time in late 2011, following royal decrees by Sultan Qabus bin Sa`id Al Sa`id, Oman’s ruler, in response to large-scale street demonstrations throughout the country during the period of Arab uprisings

  • Oman: Free Reform Activists
    Feb 22, 2013
    Omani authorities immediately should release and expunge the convictions of a group of reform activists jailed solely for exercising their rights to freedom of expression and association. Twenty-four members of the group who are serving prison terms have been on hunger strike since February 9, 2013, to draw attention to their plight.
  • Oman: Drop Cases Against Online Activists
    Jul 21, 2012
    The Omani government should drop its cases against nine online activists and a demonstrator who were convicted of crimes solely for exercising their rights to free expression. The cases are before the Omani appeals court.
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Oman

  • Oman: Free Reform Activists
    Feb 22, 2013
    Omani authorities immediately should release and expunge the convictions of a group of reform activists jailed solely for exercising their rights to freedom of expression and association. Twenty-four members of the group who are serving prison terms have been on hunger strike since February 9, 2013, to draw attention to their plight.
  • Oman: Drop Cases Against Online Activists
    Jul 21, 2012
    The Omani government should drop its cases against nine online activists and a demonstrator who were convicted of crimes solely for exercising their rights to free expression. The cases are before the Omani appeals court.
  • Letter to EU High Representative Catherine Ashton on the EU-GCC Ministerial Meeting, June 25, 2012
    Jun 25, 2012
    In advance of the upcoming EU-GCC Ministerial Meeting we write to request that human rights form a significant part of your dialogue with your GCC counterparts. We specifically call on you to make unmistakably clear that progress in strengthening EU-GCC economic and security ties will not be possible without measurable progress in GCC countries, and in particular in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Oman with regard to the continuing harassment and persecution of human rights defenders in those countries and systematic violations of freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly.
  • Oman: Assault on Freedom of Speech
    Jun 13, 2012
    Omani authorities should halt a sweeping crackdown on political activists and protesters arrested solely for exercising their rights to freedom of speech and assembly. Arrests since the end of May include 22 peaceful protesters and nine online activists and writers amid rising discontent in the Persian Gulf sultanate over its perceived failure to carry out promised reforms.
  • Oman: Newspaper Verdict Aims to Silence Dissent
    Sep 23, 2011
    An Omani appeals court should immediately revoke a lower court’s sentences in a press freedom case. The court should drop all charges against a journalist, editor, and civil servant allegedly for insulting and defaming the justice minister and his deputy in a May 14 article. The charges appear to violate international standards of freedom of expression, including the right to criticize government ministers.
  • Oman: Investigate Deaths in Protest Clashes
    Mar 3, 2011
    Omani authorities should conduct an immediate, credible investigation into the use of lethal force by the police to quell a demonstration that had turned violent in the northern coastal town of Sohar on February 27, 2011.
  • Organisation of the Islamic Conference: Improve and Strengthen the 1999 OIC Convention on Combating International Terrorism
    Mar 11, 2008
    Human Rights Watch writes to urge Dr. Ihsanoglu to use his position as Secretary General of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference to support measures at the upcoming Summit of the Organisation of Islamic Conference in Dakar, Senegal on March 13-14 that would improve and strengthen the 1999 OIC Convention on Combating International Terrorism.
  • UAE: Meetings Should Address Migrant Workers’ Rights
    Jan 20, 2008
    When labor ministers from 22 Asian and Middle Eastern countries meet in Abu Dhabi this week to discuss Asian contract migrant workers, they should address widespread violations of migrant workers’ rights.
  • Letter to Governments in Asia and the Middle East on International Migrants' Day
    Dec 18, 2007
    We are writing on December 18, 2007, International Migrants’ Day, to call upon you to implement key reforms to respect and uphold migrants’ rights. On January 21-22, 2008, the United Arab Emirates will host the latest round of the “Colombo Process,” a series of regional consultative processes focused on Asian contract migrant workers. We believe this meeting could provide an important stepping stone to establishing regional minimum standards regarding recruitment, employment, and protection of migrant workers.
  • Asian Migrant Workers Abandoned to Abuse
    Dec 17, 2007
    Governments in Asia and the Middle East must take stronger action to fight rampant abuse against migrant workers, several migrants’ and human rights groups said in a joint letter on the eve of December 18, International Migrants’ Day.
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