TAYBAH AL-MA'WALI AWAITS SENTENCING

UNCLAS MUSCAT 001203 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARPI AND DRL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PREL SOCI PINR MU SUBJECT: TAYBAH AL-MA'WALI AWAITS SENTENCING REF: MUSCAT 1132 ¶1. (SBU) On July 30, a Muscat court released Taybah al-Ma'wali on bail until a verdict on her appeal is announced around August 3. According to family members, al-Ma'wali had been in hiding since she was sentenced in absentia on July 13 to one and a half years in prison. On July 30, however, al-Ma'wali surrendered to police officials in order to defend herself before an appellate court. ¶2. (SBU) Although they expressed little hope that the previous court's decision will be overruled, family members are optimistic that the appellate judges will dismiss the charge of violating the Telecommunications Act (reftel), hopefully reducing al-Ma'wali's sentence. BALTIMORE