Originally published on September 17, 2014, at ForceChange.com

Target: Qaboos bin Said al Said, Sultan of Oman

Goal: Applaud the release of a human rights advocate held at a police station

Prominent human rights activist and blogger, Mohamed Al Fazari Abdelrahman has been released after being secretly held prisoner by the police for five days. After receiving orders to appear at the police station, he was detained for several days without access to legal representation. The police refused to even acknowledge to his family and lawyer that they had arrested him. A previous ForceChange petition called for the immediate release of Mohamed Al Fazari, and this is a commendable success.

As founder and editor of the e-magazine Mowatin (“Citizen”), Mohamed advocates for freedom of speech and expression in Oman, which has made him a target for law enforcement. In August 2012, Mohamed Al Fazari Abdelrahman was convicted of insulting the ruler, violating cybercrime law, and unlawful gathering. He was pardoned by Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said and released last year. In October 2013, he was arrested again and told to shut down his website. State security reportedly told Mohamed Al Fazari Abdelrahman that the next time they arrested him, they would never release him.

Continue reading →

Originally published on September 10, 2014, at ForceChange.com

Target: Qaboos bin Said al Said, Sultan of Oman

Goal: Free human rights advocate who disappeared after being summoned to police station

A prominent blogger and human rights activist, Mohamed Al Fazari Abdelrahman, received orders to appear at the police station. On August 30, 2014, he arrived at the police station and was never seen again. Instead of admitting to detaining Mohamed Al Fazari Abdelrahman, law enforcement officials refuse to give any information to his family and lawyer. The government of Oman must release this human rights advocate immediately.

After receiving a summons from the General Directorate of Inquires and Criminal Investigations of the Omani Police, Mohamed Al Fazari Abdelrahman showed up at the police station, but he never left. As founder and editor of the e-magazine Mowatin (“Citizen”), he advocated for freedom of speech and expression. His work has made him a target of law enforcement officials.

Continue reading →