The Arrest of Talal Al-Salmani

The Omani Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (OCHRD) condemns the verdict issued by the Muscat Primary Court on Thursday, 10 April 2025, against citizen Talal Al-Salmani, who was arrested by security forces on 8 April 2025 for participating in a protest in solidarity with Gaza. During the protest, Al-Salmani criticised the government’s stance on the situation in Gaza, as well as the security authorities’ treatment of demonstrators.

The court sentenced Al-Salmani to one year in prison and imposed a fine of 500 OMR, after charging him with “participation in an unlawful gathering” and “spreading news and rumours likely to undermine the prestige of the state.”

Despite his arrest on 8 April, Al-Salmani was brought to trial and sentenced within just two days. OCHRD believes that the ruling was primarily motivated by the authorities’ anticipation of public protests expected to take place on Friday, 11 April 2025, in response to the deteriorating economic conditions in the country.

OCHRD strongly denounces the sentence issued against Al-Salmani and calls on the authorities to drop all charges and release him immediately. It further urges the government to uphold the right to freedom of opinion and expression, and to refrain from detaining individuals on the basis of their views or peaceful activism.