By Tyler Yates
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East
MUSCAT, Oman — A court in Oman has ordered two senior journalists to be jailed for five months after they insulted the justice minister. The court also ordered the closing of Ibrahim al-Maamary Yussuf and al-Haj’s newspaper, Azzaman, for one month.
Al-Mukeebli, an Omani civil servant, was also sentenced to five months in jail, presumably for giving information to the newspaper about the case.
The three men were convicted of “insulting” Justice Minister Mohamed al-Hanai and his under secretary of state by accusing them of “fraud, deception, and prevarications.”
The insults were published in Azzaman, and were included in a May 14 article alleging corruption inside the justice ministry. Specifically, the article accused the justice minister and his deputy of refusing to grant salary and grade increases to al-Mukeebli, described as a longtime civil servant.
In response to the article the justice minister brought charges of slander against the newspaper, which led to the court’s ruling.
Ahmed al-Ajmi, the defense lawyer for the three men, has succeeded in getting them freed on bail and the order closing the newspaper suspended, until an appeal on 15 October.
The newspaper will continue to operate until the appeal decision is reached.
The case has given rise to complaints about media suppression in the Gulf Arab nation, which underwent pro-reform protests earlier this year.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called on the appeals court to immediately overturn the lower court’s decision, citing that the charges appear to violate international standards of freedom of expression, including the right to criticize government ministers.
“Journalists should be permitted to report freely about the government without fear of criminal charges and retribution,” said Joe Stork, deputy Middle East director at HRW. “Omani authorities shouldn’t use the courts to silence independent publications critical of the government.”
Freedom of expression is guaranteed under international human rights law. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) holds that “everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression…to seek, receive, and impart information, and ideas of all kinds.”
Oman is not party to the ICCPR, but the covenant serves as an authoritative guideline that reflects the international standard. Accepted international standards only allow restrictions of the press in extremely specific circumstances, for example cases of slander or libel against private individuals or speech that threatens national security.
For more information, please see:
Human Rights Watch — Oman: Newspaper Verdict Aims to Silence Dissent — 23 Sept. 2011
The National — Oman jails newspaper editor for slandering justice minister — 22 Sept. 2011
BBC News — Oman editors jailed for ‘insulting’ justice minister — 21 Sept. 2011
Boston Globe — Oman paper shut for month over corruption series — 21 Sept. 2011
Times of Oman — Oman journalists get jail terms for insulting minister — 21 Sept. 2011
