Police used excessive force against peaceful and other protesters; at least two people
were killed and others were injured. Hundreds of protesters were arrested; at least
80 were tried, many of whom were sentenced to prison terms. The authorities tightened
restrictions on freedom of expression. Women and girls continued to face severe discrimination
in law and in practice.
In January, people demonstrated against the cost of living and lack of job opportunities,
and called for political reforms and the dismissal of government ministers and corrupt
officials. Sultan Qaboos responded in February by raising the minimum wage, increasing
benefits paid to the unemployed, promising to create 50,000 new jobs, and replacing
several government ministers. In March, after protests spread, he dismissed more government
ministers and subsequently amended the Constitution to cede some legislative powers
to the Shura Council, the only elected body of the two that comprise the Majlis (Parliament).
Elections were held on 15 October and those elected chose a President of the Shura
Council for the first time. Oman’s human rights record was assessed under the UN Universal
Periodic Review in March. Oman was urged to review its legislation to combat discrimination
and violence against women.
Police and security forces used excessive force to disperse peaceful and other protests,
using tear gas, firing rubber bullets and beating protesters. On 27 February, one
man was reported to have died when police forcibly dispersed protesters in the town
of Sohar. On 29 March, the security forces carried out a pre-dawn raid on protesters
camped at Globe Roundabout in Sohar, reportedly beat those who refused to leave and
at the same time arrested others at their homes.
Abdullah al-Ghamalasi, a student, died on 27 February when police fired rubber bullets
and tear gas at protesters at Globe Roundabout in Sohar. The authorities announced
an investigation but its outcome was not disclosed.
Many protesters were arrested during the year and at least 80 were brought to trial.
Some were convicted of offences such as insulting officials, disrupting traffic or
acts of violence, and sentenced to prison terms.
Ahmed al-Shezawi was arrested at his home in the capital Muscat on 29 March. He was
held for over a week at an undisclosed location, where he was kept in solitary confinement
and allegedly subjected to constant loud music until he was transferred to the Central
Prison in Samail. He was released on 10 April, together with another protester, his
uncle Dr Abdul Gufar al-Shezawi, after they pledged not to destroy or damage public
property. In June, both were acquitted of all charges.
Basma al-Kiyumi, a prominent lawyer, was the only woman among 15 people arrested on
14 May as they and others held a peaceful protest in front of the Shura Council in
Muscat to call for the release of protesters detained two days earlier. She was charged
with participating in an unlawful gathering and released on bail on 16 May. The other
14 were also released.
In June, a court in Muscat convicted seven people arrested in connection with the
protests in Sohar of violence against public authorities and sentenced them to five-year
prison terms.
On 20 April, Sultan Qaboos pardoned 234 people accused of committing “crimes of crowding
in the streets” in the provinces of Dhank, Ibri, Sohar and Yanqul.
In October, the authorities amended Article 26 of the Press and Publications Law to
prohibit the publication through any means, including the internet, of anything deemed
likely to affect the safety of the state or its internal or external security or related
to its military and security organs. The maximum penalty was set at two years’ imprisonment
and a fine.
Yusef al-Haj, a journalist working for Azzamn newspaper, and Ibrahim al-Ma’amary, the newspaper’s editor-in-chief, were sentenced
to five months’ imprisonment in September after they were convicted of “insulting”
the Justice Minister in an article concerning alleged corruption within the Ministry.
Haroon al-Muqaibli, a Justice Ministry employee who was their source, was similarly
convicted and sentenced to five months’ imprisonment. Their sentences were upheld
on appeal.
Women and girls continued to face severe discrimination in law and in practice, particularly
in relation to personal status, employment and their subordination to male guardians.
Around 77 women stood for election to the Shura Council, more than triple the number
in 2007, although only one was elected.
