Egypt, S.Arabia step up trade ties through coordination council talks    Egypt reviews progress on $200m World Bank-funded waste management hub    Egypt urges Israel to accept Gaza deal amid intensifying fighting    SCZONE showcases investment opportunities to eight Japanese companies    Egypt, ADIB explore strategic partnership in digital healthcare, investment    SCZONE, Tokyo Metropolitan Government sign MoU on green hydrogen cooperation    Egypt welcomes international efforts for peace in Ukraine    Al-Sisi, Macron reaffirm strategic partnership, coordinate on Gaza crisis    Contact Reports Strong 1H-2025 on Financing, Insurance Gains    Egypt, India's BDR Group in talks to establish biologics, cancer drug facility    AUC graduates first cohort of film industry business certificate    Egyptian pound down vs. US dollar at Monday's close – CBE    Egypt's FM, Palestinian PM visit Rafah crossing to review Gaza aid    Egypt prepares unified stance ahead of COP30 in Brazil    Egypt recovers collection of ancient artefacts from Netherlands    Egypt harvests 315,000 cubic metres of rainwater in Sinai as part of flash flood protection measures    Egypt, Namibia explore closer pharmaceutical cooperation    Fitch Ratings: ASEAN Islamic finance set to surpass $1t by 2026-end    Renowned Egyptian novelist Sonallah Ibrahim dies at 88    Egyptian, Ugandan Presidents open business forum to boost trade    Al-Sisi says any party thinking Egypt will neglect water rights is 'completely mistaken'    Egypt's Sisi warns against unilateral Nile measures, reaffirms Egypt's water security stance    Egypt's Sisi, Uganda's Museveni discuss boosting ties    Egypt, Huawei explore healthcare digital transformation cooperation    Egypt's Sisi, Sudan's Idris discuss strategic ties, stability    Egypt to inaugurate Grand Egyptian Museum on 1 November    Greco-Roman rock-cut tombs unearthed in Egypt's Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Omani journalists face jail for corruption article
Published in Almasry Alyoum on 22 - 09 - 2011

MUSCAT- Two Omani journalists have appealed against a court decision sentencing them to prison for publishing an article on alleged corruption in the justice ministry, a reporter at their newspaper said on Thursday.
Wednesday's sentencing has angered rights activists against a backdrop of popular revolts against autocracy, graft and misrule around the Arab world that has seen the fall of leaders in Egypt, Tunisia and Libya this year.
Azzaman editor-in-chief Ibrahim al-Mammari and reporter Yousef al-Haj, 37, were sentenced to five months in jail each for insulting the justice minister and his undersecretary by accusing them of deception and fraud in a recent article.
The newspaper also had to suspend publication for a month.
Another justice ministry employee was also given five months in prison for telling the journalists that a ministry employee had been denied his salary and benefits by the justice minister without valid cause.
"We have appealed against the court's ruling and the hearing will be on 15 October," Khalid al-Zidi, a senior reporter at Azzaman, told Reuters.
Oman, a usually tranquil Gulf Arab sultanate, was touched by street protests earlier this year calling mainly for higher wages, fairer access to government jobs and an end to graft.
To placate his people, Sultan Qaboos bin Said, a US ally who has ruled the small, non-OPEC oil-producing state for 40 years, has promised a US$2.6 billion spending package and creation of 50,000 public sector jobs.
The sultan, who helped broker the release of US prisoners from Iran this week, also pledged to cede some legislative powers to the partially-elected Oman Council, an advisory body. At present, only Qaboos and his cabinet can legislate.
Human rights activists said the jailing of Azzaman's journalists was a blow to freedom of expression and called the court's decision "outrageous."
"It is a sad day for journalism in Oman and a setback to freedom of expression. It is outrageous for reporters to be jailed for informing the public what they believe it was their right (to do)," Omani-based activist Mohammed al-Farae said. "It shows that government ministers cannot be held accountable."
It was not the first time Omani journalists have faced pressure to stay silent. Last year, a blogger was jailed for one month for criticizing a government minister and this year two reporters were suspended and one detained for several days.
"We cannot have journalists living in fear for writing the truth. Politicians must be made accountable for the wrong decisions they take," said a journalist who declined to be named for fear of retribution.
He said Azzaman was being punished for a series of articles over the past year on graft and mismanagement in government.


Clic here to read the story from its source.