PUBLIC AI Index: MDE 20/006/2005

09 August 2005

Further Information on UA 26/05 (MDE 20/003/2005, 10 May 2005) and follow-up (MDE 20/002/2005, 28 January 2005) - Fear of torture/prisoners of conscience

OMAN Muhammad Bin Rashid Al-Gharbi (m), Lecturer at Sultan Qaboos University

Dr Ali Bin Hilal al-Arbi (m), Lecturer at Sultan Qaboos University,

Dr Jabir al-Sa'di (m), Lecturer at Sultan Qaboos University

Said al-Harthi (m), former judge

possibly over 100 other detainees

All those named above have been released. Muhammad Bin Rashid Al-Gharbi, Dr Ali Bin Hilal al-Arbi, Dr Jabir al-Sa'di and the 27 others given prison sentences in May were granted a royal amnesty by the Sultan of Oman on 9 June 2005. In a letter dated 13 July, the Grand Mufti of the Sultanate of Oman confirmed that all the detainees had been released.

The men were detained during mass arrests in January. Many others arrested at the same time, including Said al-Harthi, are also believed to have been released earlier in the year.

At the beginning of May Muhammad Bin Rashid Al-Gharbi and Dr Jabir al-Sa'di were sentenced to seven years' imprisonment, and Dr Ali Bin Hilal al-Arbi to ten years' imprisonment, by the State Security Court in the capital, Muscat. They had reportedly been convicted of “plotting to overthrow the regime by force… by setting up a banned underground organization.” The 27 others were sentenced to prison terms ranging from seven to 20 years.

No further action is required from the UA network. Many thanks to all those who sent appeals.