Prominent blogger and human rights defender Mohamed Al Fazari in Oman, is the founder and editor of the e-magazine Mowatin (“Citizen”). He advocates for the freedom of expression and speaks against corruption.

William Gomes Global News Centre Human Rights Ambassador

(LONDON)  Human rights defender Mohamed Al Fazari was stopped at Muscat International Airport on 22 December 2014 while enroute to the United Kingdom. A travel ban was issued against him without providing any reasons and his official documents including his national ID and passport were confiscated. I am concerned at the travel ban imposed on Mohamed Al Fazari as well as the ongoing intimidation and harassment against him, as it is solely motivated by his peaceful and legitimate human rights activities.

His Excellency Mr Abdulla Nasser Al Rahbi
Permanent Mission of the Sultanate of Oman
Chemin de Roilbot 3a
1292 Chambésy
Switzerland
Fax: +41 22 758 96 66
Email: [email protected]

Your Excellency,

I am William Nicholas Gomes, Human Rights Ambassador for Global News Centre.

I am writing to you to draw your attention to the following case.

Human rights defender Mr Mohamed Al Fazari remains restricted from travelling since 22 December 2014. Mohamed Al Fazari was stopped at Muscat International Airport by security authorities and was informed that he cannot travel due to a travel ban imposed on him. The authorities further confiscated his official documents and asked him to immediately appear before the Special Division of the Omani Police in the capital Muscat, where he was arrested but released on the same day.

Mohamed Al Fazari is a prominent blogger and human rights defender in Oman. He is the founder and editor of the e-magazine Mowatin (“Citizen”). He advocates for the freedom of expression and speaks against corruption.

On the morning of 22 December 2014, Mohamed Al Fazari was stopped at Muscat International Airport when he attempted to travel to the United Kingdom. He was informed by the authorities that a travel ban was issued against him without providing any reasons and his official documents including his national ID and passport were confiscated. He was further asked to appear immediately before the Division of the Omani Police in the capital Muscat. At 12 PM on the same day, Mohamed Al Fazari appeared before the police where he was detained for interrogation until 8 PM before he was released without his official documents. No charges were brought against him.

The human rights defender was previously arrested on 30 August 2014 and held in a detention facility inside the Special Section of the Omani Police for five days without access to legal representation. He was accused of “undermining the prestige of the state” and “disturbing public order”. However, the prosecution decided to suspend the charges against Mohamed Al Fazari and he was released on 4 September 2014 after signing the police report.

I am concerned at the travel ban imposed on Mohamed Al Fazari as well as the ongoing intimidation and harassment against him, as it is solely motivated by his peaceful and legitimate human rights activities.

I urge the authorities in Oman to:

1. Immediately and unconditionally lift the travel ban imposed on human rights defender Mohamed Al Fazari, return his documents and refrain from further harassing him; 2. Guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders in Oman are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions.

Your sincerely,
William Nicholas Gomes
Human Rights Ambassador for Global News Centre Twitter @wnicholasgomes
www.williamnicholasgomes.com

- See more at: http://www.frontlinedefenders.org/node/27906/action#sthash.mDQiJkBQ.dpuf

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Human Rights Ambassador William Nicholas Gomes is a Bangladeshi journalist, human rights activist. As an investigative journalist has written widely for leading European and Asian media outlets. William Gomes concentrates on humanity; his advocacy of human beings in dangerous, preventable circumstances does in fact lead to some of our most vital reports, because they give a voice to the voiceless.
William Gomes said, “I am against any form of intolerance alongside xenophobia and antisemitism. I am and will always stand strong in combating all forms of racial discrimination and intolerance any where.” Read his letters and reports to see what the new generation of world journalists are doing to preserve human rights worldwide.