Statement by the OCHRD On the Sentencing of Writer Mohammed Ali Al-Bar’ami

The Omani Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (OCHRD) strongly condemns the sentencing of writer Mohammed Ali Al-Bar’ami by the Primary Court in Salalah on 28 July 2025, following a tweet he posted on his personal account on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on 16 June 2025.

OCHRD believes that Al-Bar’ami was arrested two days after the publication of the tweet, on 18 June 2025. It is worth noting that he had previously been arrested in March 2024, and was later referred to trial on 30 April 2024.

In his tweet, Al-Bar’ami wrote:

“Development in nations collapses and recedes when it is controlled and supervised by a corrupt system…”

Following a detention that lasted several days, Al-Bar’ami was brought before the court on 26 June 2025. The court later issued its ruling on 28 July 2025, sentencing him to four years in prison and a fine of 5,000 Omani Rials. The court also ordered the closure of all his accounts on Facebook and X.

He was charged with the misdemeanour of using the internet and information technology tools to publish content deemed to be “prejudicial to public order.”

OCHRD denounces this unjust and disproportionate sentence and calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Mohammed Al-Bar’ami and for all charges against him to be dropped.

Furthermore, the OCHRD urges the Omani authorities to uphold the right to freedom of opinion and expression and to take all necessary legal and institutional measures to protect this right in accordance with international human rights standards.