Oman: Arrests of Rights Activists Continue

Oman is one of the countries that international media and organizations pay little attention to. Since the start of the so-called Arab Spring at the beginning of 2011, Oman witnessed several protests calling for reforms in salaries, the judiciary, and political representation.

Last week a Twitter hashtag showed up with the name of three detainees #اسماعيل_حبيبة_يعقوب. They are the former Oman volleyball player Habiba Al Hinai and activists Esmail Al Muqbali and Yaqoub Al Kharusi. The activists were arrested following their visit to Fahoud oil fields last Thursday to show solidarity with the striking Omani workers from contracting companies, who were commissioned to complete a project for two oil companies in the country. According to Gulf News, the strike has been termed illegal and workers have been asked to report back by around nine contracting companies. The workers have been warned they could risk losing their jobs if they continued the strike, in which they were demanding better wages, risk allowance and provision of pensions. 

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