Urgent
Action
13 Sep 2012
Further
to our four previous appeals, dated 29 June 2012, 18 July 2012, 9 August 2012, and
29 August 2012 (For more information kindly see:
http://www.gc4hr.org/news/
On 09 September 2012, the Court of First
Instance in Muscat has sentenced 6 human rights defenders and advocates of
reform, convicted for allegedly insulting the Sultan by publishing
“offensive Writings and violating information technology law.” The
convicted 6 defenders and
their sentences are listed below:
- Mr. Ismael Al-Miqbali
- Mr Nabhan Al-Hanshi
- Mr. Mahmoud Mohamed Al-Jamodi
- Mr. Hassan Al-Ruqayshi
The
four activists mentioned above sentenced to one year and 6 months in prison, a
fine of 1000 Rials (2600 US$) in addition to a bail of 1500 Rials (3900 US$) pending the appeal of their sentences.
- Mr. Isaac Al-Agbary
- Mr. Ali Al-Haji
The
two activists mentioned above sentenced to one year in prison, a fine of 1000
Rials (2600 US$) in addition to a bail of 1500 Rials (3900 US$) pending the appeal of their sentences.
The court adjourned the trial of the
following four activists until 16 September 2012:
- Mr. Khalfan Al-Badwawi
- Mr. Khaled Saleh Al-Nawfali
- Mr. Sultan Al-Sa’adi
- Mr. Hatem Al-Maliki
Activists Khaled Saleh Al-Nawfali, Sultan Al-Sa’adi,
and Hatem Al-Maliki have paid 500 Riyals (1300 US$) for a technical expert
who will be appointed by the presiding judge to study the claim of the
defendants that their Facebook accounts were hacked into in the past.
Human
rights defender Mukhtar Mohamed Al-Hinaei told the court that he is not in
a position to pay the required 500 Riyal (1300 US$) fee in order for his
Facebook page to be examined. He informed the judge that the public prosecution
office has been provided before with evidence shows that his Facebook account
was hacked into while he was in detention.
Woman human rights defender
Habiba Al-Hanaei has been summoned few days ago by the special branch of
the police force in Oman. The woman defender was forced to sign a declaration
in which she stated that she will not publish any information related to the
trial of human rights defenders and activists in Oman.
The GCHR
believes that the sentencing of the aforementioned 6 human rights defenders and
activist is directly
related to the legitimate exercise of their rights to freedom of expression and
freedom of assembly. The issuance of these sentences represents a
continuation of a common pattern now
in Oman, which is using the politicized judiciary to target
defenders and activists.
The GCHR condemns in the strongest terms the harassment campaign against woman rights defenders Habiba Al-Hanaei which proves once again that the freedom of expression in Oman remains under siege.
The
Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) calls on the authorities in Oman to:
- Immediately and unconditionally revoke all the sentences against the aforementioned human rights defenders and activist;
- Immediately stop the harassment campaign against woman human rights defenders Habiba Al-Hanaei;
- Guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders and journalists in Oman are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions including judicial harassment.
GCHR
respectfully reminds you that the United Nations 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, recognizes 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 (b and c): “Everyone has the right, individually and in association
with others: (b) As provided for in human rights and other applicable
international instruments, freely to publish, impart or disseminate to others
views, information and knowledge on all human rights and fundamental freedoms;
(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): “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.”
Please
write immediately in English, Arabic, or your own language to:
1. Urge
the authorities to immediately and unconditionally revoke all the sentences
against the
aforementioned human rights defenders and activist;
2. Stop immediately
from targeting human rights defenders and activists who are engaged
in their peaceful and legitimate
human rights work.
Please
Send Appeals now TO:
His
Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Sa’id
Head of
State, Prime Minister, Foreign Affairs, Defense and Finance Minister
Diwan of
the Royal Court
The
Palace
Muscat
113
Sultanate
of Oman
Fax:
+968 24 735 375
His
Excellency Sayyid Hamoud bin Faisal bin Said Al Busaidi
Minister
of the Interior
Ministry
of Interior
PO Box
127
Ruwi 112
Muscat
Sultanate
of Oman
Mr Mohammed bin Abdullah Al
Riyami
Chairman
National
Human Rights Commission
P.O.Box
29, Postal Code: 103
Bareq A'
Shati
Muscat,
Sultanate of Oman
Fax:
+968 24648801
Email:
enquiry@nhrc.om
The
Gulf Centre for Human Rights is an independent centre and has been registered
in Ireland. The Centre works to strengthen support for human rights defenders
and independent journalists in Bahrain, Iraq, Syria, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi
Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
ليست هناك تعليقات:
إرسال تعليق