FOREIGN MINISTRY CHIMES IN ON RECENT ARRESTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 MUSCAT 000231

SIPDIS

NOFORN

DEPT FOR NEA/ARPI, DRL/PHD (J.DAVIS, D.ABRAMSON)
STATE ALSO FOR DS/IP/NEA, DS/IP/ITA, DS/DSS/OSAC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/09/2015
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PINS SCUL ASEC KVPR MU
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTRY CHIMES IN ON RECENT ARRESTS

REF: A. MUSCAT 148

B. 04 MUSCAT 2226 AND PREVIOUS

Classified By: Ambassador Richard L. Baltimore III.
Reason: 1.4 (b, d).

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Summary
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1. (SBU/NF) As a string of security detentions continues to
roil the political waters in Oman, the Foreign Ministry sent
a note on February 5 to select foreign embassies offering
clarification of the government's action. The MFA letter was
adamant in denying any violent or terroristic intentions on
the part of the detainees, citing instead their "illegal
association against the national security" of the state.
While the MFA claims the number of detainees is less than
twenty, we have compiled a list of 22 persons thus far
alleged to have been picked up by the authorities. Internet
accounts about one recently released detainee suggest his
demeanor has changed considerably following his ordeal. End
summary.


2. (SBU) The recent detentions (reftels) of Omanis in
connection with some undisclosed "illegal association"
continue to be the center of dinner table conversations
around the country. The overwhelming tenor of Internet
chatroom debate has decisively shifted away from speculation
as to what mischief the detainees may have been up to and
instead largely deride the government for holding these
individuals without sufficient (in the popular view) cause.
While a number of voices call for not jumping to conclusions
about the innocence of the detainees, they are decidedly in
the minority.

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Foreign Ministry Explanation
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3. (SBU/NF) Following the Information Minister's January 30
remarks on the detentions (ref A),for which he continues to
be widely panned, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on February
5 sent a diplomatic note to us (and apparently a select
number of other embassies) offering clarifications of the
police action and firmly dispelling any notion that the
detainees had been plotting acts of terror or violence. The
text of the note, curiously delivered in English, is below.

(Begin text)

Note on detentions, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

In recent days there have been a number of reports in the
media about detentions made by the Government of Oman since
the beginning of this year. In support of the interview
given by Information Minister H.E. Hamad bin Mohammed al
Rashdi January 30, we are happy to offer some further
clarification.

Contrary to media reports, the total number of citizens
detained is fewer than 20. To date none of these people have
been charged with any crime. They have been detained because
it has been established that there is credible evidence
implicating the individuals concerned in illegal association
against the national security of the State and its policies
of modernity and development.

In keeping with internationally accepted legal norms it would
be wrong for the Government to announce details of the
individuals concerned with this matter potentially or
actually sub judice. Secondly, as Information Minister al
Rashdi made very clear, because of the close knit nature of
Omani society, it would be unjust to expose the individuals
concerned to potential public humiliation and social
exclusion until and unless good grounds for doing so are
found.

In addition we wish to make it clear that to date there is no
evidence of any terrorist or international connection to
these events at all. Those detained have not been found in
possession of any weapons or explosives, and there is no
evidence of any conspiracy to carry out acts of terrorism,
nor is there any evidence of any connection with
international terrorist organisations.

Finally we wish to emphasize that we value and respect the
work of leading international human rights organisations. In
a few short decades Oman has developed with remarkable speed
and effectiveness, as recognised by a number of international
organisations, most notably the World Health Organisation,
and in so doing the Government of Oman believes it serves its
citizens very well. Our Country is guided by our
constitution: the Basic Statute of the State 1996, which
affords all our citizens the rights and privileges generally
recognised by modern international norms.

February 5, 2005

(End text.)


4. (C) MFA Under Secretary Sayyid Badr al-Busaidi confided to
the Ambassador February 7 that he was the author of the MFA
note, deeming it necessary to make better sense of the
Information Minister's poor attempt at explication. While
Sayyid Badr did not go into greater detail with the
Ambassador, the text's reference to the illegal association
somehow threatening the policy of "modernity" lends further
support to our presumption in ref A that the detainees may
have been advocating a restoration of the Imamate (vice
Sultanic) system of rule that was abolished in the 1950's.

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Speculation on Detainees
--------------


5. (SBU/NF) Sorting through the piles of Internet message
board postings, we have produced the list below of alleged
detainees identified by name by private citizens. While we
cannot confirm the accuracy of the data, the degree of detail
provided lends it a degree of credibility in our view.
Noting that their number exceed 20, in seeming contradiction
to the Foreign Ministry text above, we have also heard
anecdotal accounts of numerous other persons detained for a
few days and released.


6. (SBU) One of the listed detainees, Khalifa al-Mahruqi, has
been subject of considerable speculation in recent days.
Internet message board contributors in "Al Sablah" who claim
to have paid calls on his family since his recent release
after 24 days in custody report that he is a changed man.
Saying he is normally active and talkative, several persons
have reported that Mahruqi is much weakened by his ordeal and
refuses to discuss it. These descriptions have led to
speculation in the message board that al-Mahruqi may have
been subjected to "mental stresses" during his detention.


7. (SBU) The following is our unofficial listing of persons
allegedly detained as part of the government's crackdown on
an "illegal association":

(Start of list)

Shaikh Muhammad bin Sulaiman bin Muhammad al-Shi'aili
Preacher at Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat region
Chairman of the Islamic Culture Group at the Student Affairs
Department, Sultan Qaboos University
Originally from Ma'amor, Bahla (Dakhiliyah region). He has
lived in Nizwa for 10 years and worked at Sultan Qaboos
University since 1986. He has a BA in Islamic Studies.


Dr. Ali bin Hilal bin Muhammad al-Abri
Lecturer at Sultan Qaboos University
Preacher at the al-Hamra Mosque
Lives in Hamra, Dakhiliyah region


Humud bin Mohammad bin Salim al-Rahbi
Vision Inspector/Tester, Ministry of Health
Lives in Bidbid, Dakhiliyah region


Ahmed bin Muhammad bin Sulaim al-Rahbi
Student, College of Education in Nizwa, Dakhiliyah region


Shaikh Yusuf bin Ibrahim al-Sarhani
Lecturer at the College of Education in Nizwa
Sometimes preaches at the Izki Mosque
Lives in Izki, Dakhiliyah region


Mahmoud bin Muhammad al-'Azri
He is from Izki, Dakhiliyah region


Shaikh Said bin Sultan bin Muhammad al-Harthi
Preacher at Wadi Nam in al-Qabil wilayat, Sharqiyah region


Muhammad bin Salim bin Muhammad al-Harthi
Employee at the Directorate General of Education, North
Sharqiya region

Said bin Abdullah bin Ahmed al-Saqri
Preacher

Shaikh Dr. Jabir bin Ali bin Humud al-S'adi
Lecturer at the College of Sharia'a and Law, al-Musana'a,
Batinah region


Shaikh Muhammad bin Rashid bin Salih al-Gharbi
Teacher of Quranic Sciences at Sultan Qaboos University
Studying for his Ph.D.; lives in Suwaiq, Batinah region


Saif bin Salim al-Busaidi
Lives in Manah, Dakhiliyah region


Salim bin Said bin Ahmed al-S'adi
Preacher from Wadi Bani Khalid, Sharqiyah region


Shaikh Salih bin Salim al-Rabkhi
Ministry of the Royal Diwan,
Director of Mosques in Bahla, Dakhiliyah region


Ahmed bin Muhammad bin Sulaiman al-Saqri
Works for state oil company Petroleum Development Oman
Lives in Ghobra, Muscat region


Shaikh Nassir al-Sab'ai
Lecturer at the Institute of Shari'a Sciences


Shaikh Khamis al-'Adawi
Advisor at the Iftaa Office in Bahla, Dakhiliyah region


Shaikh Humaid al-Yahmade
Works at the Iftaa office


Said al-Mawali
Works at the Directorate General of Education in Izki,
Dakhiliyah region


Khalifa al-Busaidi
Inspector of Islamic Studies in Manah, Dakhiliyah region


Shaikh Salih bin Rashid al-Ma'amari
Former Director of the Sultan Qaboos Institute for Religious
Studies in Sohar, Batinah region


Khalifa al-Mahruqi (reportedly recently released)
Mosque Preacher in Adam, Dakhiliyah region
Driver for Shaikh Humud al-Sawafi

(End of list.)
BALTIMORE