Oman, UAE Condemned for Sentences Against Netizens

Photo Credit: Muscat Daily

Oman and the United Arab Emirates were criticized by a media watchdog and a human rights group for recent arrests and sentences against human rights activists and bloggers. Reporters Without Borders condemned the Omani government for sentencing activists to jail for publishing defamatory comments about Sultan Qaboos bin Said. “We are shocked by the number of convictions of netizens and human rights activists, whose only offence was to exercise their right to free expression,” the organization said. Human Rights Watch (HRW) weighed in as well, urging Oman to immediately drop all cases against the online activists. Nadim Houry, deputy Middle East director at HRW, said,  “Rather than listening to legitimate demands and peaceful criticism, Omani authorities are jailing people who speak out.”

Additionally, Reporters Without Borders denounced the United Arab Emirates for the arrest of 17 “campaigners and rights activists” held on charges of “opposing the constitution” and “having links and affiliations to organisations with foreign agendas.” The group called for the netizens’ and bloggers’ immediate release and said, “The authorities must put an end to successive arrests of campaigners and human rights campaigners, which flagrantly violates basic freedoms.”