Document - Oman: Further information on Fear of torture or ill-treatment/ Possible prisoners of conscience
PUBLIC AI Index: MDE 20/005/2005
20 July 2005
Further Information on UA 187/05 (MDE 20/004/2005, 15 July 2005) Fear of torture or ill-treatment/ Possible prisoners of conscience
OMAN Abdullah Al Riyami (m), aged 40, writer - released
Taiba al Mawali (f), former member of parliament
Prisoner of conscience Abdullah Al Riyami was released without charge on 19 July. He had been detained incommunicado for a week.
Abdullah Al Riyami was detained at the police headquarters in Muscat on 12 July. During his detention he was reportedly brought before a judge at the Supreme Court and questioned for over four and half hours about his criticism of the authorities. The judge allegedly told Abdullah Al Riyami that there is "an open file" on him and that he could be summoned by the authorities at any time if he continued to criticise the government. The judge also reportedly asked Abdullah Al Riyami about comments he had made about the government which were published on the internet, as well as about research he had previously conducted on torture inside police stations in Oman.
There is no further information about former member of parliament Taiba al Mawali. She was reportedly arrested at the beginning of June and was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment on 13 July in connection with her criticisms of the government. Amnesty International has no information about where she is detained and believes that she may be a prisoner of conscience, held solely for the non-violent expression of her beliefs.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in English or your own language:
- welcoming the release of Abdullah Al Riyami;
- calling for Taiba al Mawali to be released immediately and unconditionally, if she is a prisoner of conscience, held solely for the non-violent expression of her beliefs;
- seeking assurances that she is given immediate access to her relatives, her lawyer and any medical attention she may require;
- asking for details of any recognizably criminal charges against Taiba al Mawali together with the details of any legal proceedings against her, including the dates of trial hearings and the name of the court before which she appeared.
APPEALS TO:
Sultan of Oman
His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said
Diwan of the Royal Court
PO Box 875, Muscat 113
Sultanate of Oman
Fax: + 968 24 735 375
Salutation: Your Majesty
Minister of Justice
His Excellency Sheikh Mohammad bin Abdullah bin Zaher al-Hinai
Minister of Justice, Ministry of Justice
PO Box 354, Muscat 112
Sultanate of Oman
Fax: + 968 24 607716
Salutation: Your Excellency
Minister of Interior
His Excellency Sa=ud bin Brahim al-Busa=idi
Minister of Interior, Ministry of Interior
PO Box 127, Ruwi 112
Sultanate of Oman
Fax: + 968 24 797779
Salutation: Your Excellency
COPIES TO: diplomatic representatives of Oman accredited to your country.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 1 September 2005.