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). -------------- Summary -------------- ¶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. -------------- A Pardonable Sin -------------- ¶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. -------------- Others Allegedly Still Behind Bars -------------- ¶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. -------------- Secrecy, Not Religion, Cause for Concern -------------- ¶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. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶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