Freedom of expression remained unduly restricted, including through prosecutions of and sentences against individuals for publishing COVID-19-related information deemed “false” by the government. Oman amended the Foreign Residency Law, removing the requirement for foreign workers to obtain a “no...

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries hosting of series of major sporting events should not be allowed to overshadow their record of ongoing human rights violations, Amnesty International said today ahead of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar and the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix in the United Arab...

Iran, Egypt, Iraq, Saudi Arabia accounted for 88% of known global executions in 2020 Egypt tripled number of yearly executions Iran accounted for 56% of all recorded executions in MENA 85% drop in executions recorded in Saudi Arabia Oman and Qatar resumed executions for first time in several years...

Launch of Amnesty International’s global annual report Pandemic lays bare systemic inequality in MENA and worldwide with refugees, migrants and prisoners severely impacted Throughout 2020 MENA governments ramped up assault on freedom of expression and in some cases punished health workers who spoke...

Governments across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) are collectively failing to protect the rights of migrants in their countries, said Amnesty International, marking International Migrants Day. Across the region, migrants regularly face discrimination, exploitation and other forms of abuse...

Thousands of people in the Gulf face the prospect of their lives being further disrupted and their families torn apart as new arbitrary measures announced by Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the context of their dispute with Qatar are due to come into force from today,...

The appalling human rights records of states in the Gulf must not be swept under the carpet when member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) gather in the Bahraini capital, Manama, this week (6-7 December) for their annual summit, said Amnesty International today. Human rights will be...

Oman’s authorities have carried out a string of journalist arrests in recent weeks signalling a growing crackdown on freedom of expression in the country, said Amnesty International. Three journalists from Azamn daily newspaper have been detained in connection with an article highlighting...

Spokespeople available for interview As Saudi Arabia receives Barack Obama today, Amnesty International is urging the US President not to turn his back on victims of repression and human rights violations across the Gulf states. In an open letter published ahead of Obama’s meeting with King Salman...

The health of a prisoner of conscience on hunger strike in Oman has deteriorated seriously, Amnesty International warned ahead of his imminent transfer to the capital Muscat for a court hearing. Saeed Jaddad, a human rights activist jailed for his peaceful activism, was hospitalized on 23 January...

The Omani authorities must release a politician jailed for his involvement in an environmental protest, Amnesty International said after an appeal court upheld today.  “The case against Talib al-Ma’amari appears to be politically motivated and based solely on his participation in a peaceful...

The Sultan of Oman’s decision to pardon all activists and writers convicted last year for insulting the ruler, IT crimes and taking part in unauthorized protests should be just the first step in addressing the issue of freedom of expression in Oman, said Amnesty International.Sultan Qaboos issued...

A court of appeals in Oman has upheld convictions and prison sentences against five men and a woman in what Amnesty International said is part of an ongoing assault on freedom of expression in the Gulf nation. On 5 December the appeals court in the capital Muscat upheld earlier convictions against...