Omani Activists Detained for Supporting Labor Strike

Photo Credit: The Times of Oman

Three human rights activists were detained by security forces in Oman last week after traveling to the Fohoud oil field to show solidarity with an oil workers’ strike that had been ongoing since May 24th. The strike ended yesterday as some 400 fired strikers returned to work. One of the detained activists, Ismail  al-Muqbali, remains in custody. Meanwhile, prisoners of conscience in Samail prison entered (Arabic) the 9th day of a hunger strike. The hunger strike began as a protest against ill-treatment and humiliation by prison guards. Human rights organizations report that the strikers are being held in solitary confinement.

In other news, 21 Omani women have received sailing accreditation for the first time in the country’s history. Najia al-Muawali, Oman’s first female horse-rider and the first woman to obtain a certificate as a commercial pilot, told Al-Arabiya “this is an honor for Omani women.”