On 5 and 12 December, the appeal court of Muscat upheld verdicts against 29 human rights activists, including 36 year-old Omani human rights defender Said Ben Sultan Al Hashimi, who will be serving prison sentences for charges such as 'insulting the Sultan' and 'unlawful gathering'. Alkarama strongly condemns the illegal detention of Sultan Al Hashimi and the 28 others which is clearly an assault against their right of freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, as guaranteed by Omani and international legislation.

Alkarama is seriously concerned following the latest events in Oman and the wave of arrests which has followed the people's peaceful demonstrations. In this connection, it addressed the UN Special Rapporteur for the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression regarding the 107 people arbitrarily detained by the authorities.