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 activists sentenced to prison
Published in Daily News Egypt on 11 - 07 - 2012

Sultan Qaboos bin Said, leader of Oman, salutes on the third day of celebrations marking 40 years since he took the throne
Four Omani activists were sentenced to prison on Monday by the Criminal Court of First Instance in Muscat, according to the United Arab Emirates-based news service, Gulf News.
Three of them, Hamad Al-Kharusi, Ali Al-Meqbali and Mahmoud Al-Rawah, were sentenced to a year in prison while the fourth, Hammoud Al-Rashidi, was sentenced to six months, according to Gulf News. They are accused of defaming the Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al-Said, the Sultan of Oman who has ruled the country since 1970 when he overthrew his father.
The activists have been released on bail pending the appeal. The Dublin-based human rights organisation Front Line Defenders called on the Omani authorities to “immediately overturn the conviction of" Hammoud Al-Rashidi and Hamad Al-Kharusi and condemned their sentencing.
These men are part of a group of activists who had been arrested through May and June when the government started a campaign targeting online activists. Hammoud Al-Rashidi and Hamad Al-Kharusi were arrested on 8 June. According to the BBC, there were also activists arrested on 11 June after protesting in solidarity with bloggers and writers who were arrested earlier in May. All of those who have so far been arrested are believed to have been released.
Omani activists are repeatedly harassed by the government, according to Front Line Defenders. On 13 June, Human Rights Watch released a statement urging the Omani authorities to “halt a sweeping crackdown on political activists and protesters."
Following in the footsteps of the Bahraini authorities, who ordered the demolishing of the Pearl Roundabout, Omani authorities earlier this month ordered the removal of a globe monument from Reform Square which largely became the symbol of revolution for Omanis in the city of Sohar north of Muscat, according to the Bahraini news service, Sot el-Manama (the Voice of Manama).
The square which was previously known as the Globe Square was renamed Reform Square and has largely been the centre of the revolution in the city. This most recent move by the government to quell protester's demands has angered activists.
Oman, a country of approximately 3 million, is a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council. Like many countries in the Arab World, it witnessed pro-reform demonstrations at the beginning of 2011.
Demonstrators who were met with police violence demanded reform, an end to corruption and objected to the high costs of living. The protests in Oman started mid-January 2011 before the Egyptian revolution. In March, the New York based Human Rights Watch, described the methods used by Bahraini security to quell a demonstration as “lethal“. Many insist that demonstrators never demanded the ouster of Sultan Qaboos and that they only wanted reforms.


Clic here to read the story from its source.