SULTAN PARDONS CONVICTED IBADHIS

C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 000931

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/11/2015
TAGS: PGOV PINS KISL MU
SUBJECT: SULTAN PARDONS CONVICTED IBADHIS

REF: MUSCAT 830 AND PREVIOUS

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

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Summary
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1. (C) Sultan Qaboos issued a decree June 9 pardoning the
thirty-one Ibadhis sentenced May 2 for belonging to a secret
organization and seeking to overthrow the state. It is
unknown if the thirty-one, who include several high-ranking
officials, will be permitted to return to their jobs. We
believe that there have been other arrests, primarily from
the military and security services, in connection with this
same secret organization, though their cases have never been
officially acknowledged. End summary.

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A Pardonable Sin
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2. (SBU) On June 9, upon his return from a 5-week vacation in
Egypt and visits to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, Sultan Qaboos
issued a royal decree officially pardoning the thirty-one
Ibadhis convicted on May 2 of belonging to an illegal
organization and seeking to overthrow the state. While the
pardon itself came as little surprise, the timing was earlier
than expected. Ramadan or official holidays in the fall have
traditionally been the time of royal pardons. While the
convicted's sentences had ranged from 1-20 years, none had
been in custody longer than approximately December 2004. It
remains to be seen whether or not those released will be
permitted to return to their jobs, particularly given that
several of them held high-level positions. A similar series
of arrests in 1994 against an alleged Muslim Brotherhood cell
did not prevent some of those pardoned defendants from
regaining their government jobs.

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Others Allegedly Still Behind Bars
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3. (C) Credible rumors continue to circulate on the Internet
and among diplomatic circles that a double-digit number of
other Omanis, particularly from the military and security
services, remain in custody for also belonging to the alleged
illegal Ibadhi organization. Forty-three military personnel
are said to have been court marshaled, but the case has never
been reported officially, in contrast to the public trial of
the thirty-one just pardoned by the Sultan.

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Secrecy, Not Religion, Cause for Concern
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4. (C) A Ministry of Religious Affairs contact told us
recently that the thirty-one Ibadhis sentenced in May, of
whom several were his co-workers, were primarily guilty of
having applied Muslim Brotherhood organizational tactics in
secretly setting up their group. The contact charged that

SIPDIS
many of the group of thirty-one were educated in Jordan at
institutions heavily infiltrated by Muslim Brotherhood
sympathizers, from whom they gleamed insights on tactics but
not theology. Otherwise, the contact reiterated government
assurances that the group had no other links to foreign
organizations, including for financing or weapons.

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Comment
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5. (C) The security services succeeded in reminding the
public that it remains vigilant, while the Sultan perpetuates
his reputation for handling his opponents with a soft touch.
While this "catch and release" strategy creates burdens for
the security services, the Sultan's longevity and Oman's firm
reputation as the most peaceful corner of an often violent
region speaks for itself.
BALTIMORE