Oman: UN experts call for the immediate release of prominent
rights activist, as reprisals continue unchecked
GENEVA (30 January 2015) – A group of United Nations
independent experts has urged the Government of Oman to release Said Ali Said
Jadad, a prominent human rights defender who has been advocating for democratic
reforms in the country and has been repeatedly detained. Mr. Jadad’s latest
detention took place on 21 January, without an arrest warrant.
Mr. Jadad is scheduled to be transferred from the Police
Headquarters in Salalah to appear in court in Muscat in the coming days, on
charges of undermining the prestige of the state, incitement to sit-ins and
demonstrations, steering up sectarian strife and offending state officials.
“This is not the first time that I have been informed about
acts of reprisals against Mr. Jadad following my official visit to Oman in
September 2014,” the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful
assembly and of association, Maina Kiai, said. “Mr. Jadad has been repeatedly
detained since 10 December and I am worried that he was arrested for having met
with me during my visit.”
“I urge the Omani Government to ensure the safety of Mr.
Jadad and to guarantee that no human rights defender in the country is
subjected to any form of reprisals – including threats, harassment,
imprisonment or judicial proceedings,” Mr. Kiai stated.
The Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights
defenders, Michel Forst, pointed out that “Mr. Jadad’s recurring detention is
unacceptable as it seems to be an act of reprisal for cooperating with
international organizations, such as the UN and its human rights mechanisms.”
“I am concerned that Mr. Jaddad is being arbitrarily
deprived of his liberty for having exercised his rights to freedom of opinion
and expression and freedom of association, as guaranteed by articles 20 and 21
of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,” said Mads Andenas, who currently
chairs the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.
The Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion
and expression, David Kaye, expressed concern over reports of increased and
more severe control over civil society in the country by Omani security and
intelligence services, and the impact that these restrictions have on the
enjoyment of the right to freedom of opinion and expression.
“We steadfastly condemn the detention of individuals who
seek to contribute to the promotion and protection of human rights and we call
for Mr. Jadad’s immediate release,” the independent experts said.
The experts have been in contact with the Government of Oman
on the abovementioned issues.
ENDS
The United Nations human rights experts are part of what it
is known as ‘Special Procedures’, the largest body of independent experts in
the UN Human Rights system. ‘Special Procedures’ is the general name of the
independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms of the Human Rights Council
that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts
of the world. Currently, there are 38 thematic mandates and 14 mandates related
to countries and territories, with 73 mandate holders.
Special Procedures experts work on a voluntary basis; they
are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are
independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual
capacity. Learn more, log on to: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/SP/Pages/Welcomepage.aspx
For more information, visit:
Freedom of assembly:
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/AssemblyAssociation/Pages/SRFreedomAssemblyAssociationIndex.aspx
Human rights defenders: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/SRHRDefenders/Pages/SRHRDefendersIndex.aspx
Arbitrary Detention:
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Detention/Pages/WGADIndex.aspx
Freedom of opinion:
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/FreedomOpinion/Pages/OpinionIndex.aspx
OHCHR Country Page – Oman:
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Countries/MENARegion/Pages/OMIndex.aspx
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