Nickname Faz Nationality Omani Other name Faz | Language Arabic Ethnicity Arab | |
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Born 27 September 1988 (age 28)
Sohar - Oman ( 1988-09-27 ) Occupation Writer, journalist, Editor in chief | ||
Mohammed Alfazari (Arabic: lمحمد الفزاري; born 27 September 1988) is an Omani writer, journalist, and political activist. He is the founder and the editor in chief of Mowatin Magazine. On 17 July 2015 Alfazari left Oman seeking for a political asylum in UK after a travel ban was issued against him without providing any reasons and his official documents including his national ID and passport were confiscated more than 8 months. Alfazari has published one novel called "Khattab" and now he is publishing a political and religious novel which is nearly complete.
Contents
Political activism
Mohammad al-Fazari is an Omani who has suffered reprisals for speaking his mind on the government and demanding civil and political freedom. A participant in the 2011 Arab Spring protests, al-Farazi protested for democracy, a real parliament with legislative powers, a new contractual constitution, transparency and separation of powers. Throughout 2012 and 2013, al-Farazi faced numerous arbitrary arrests and interrogations, including charges of "insulting the sultan" and engaging in an "illegal gathering".
In 2013, al-Farazi founded Al-Mowaten, an independent news magazine concerning Omani society - after which he says his life became exceedingly difficult. In August 2014, he was arrested "for reasons that concern him personally" after calling upon Omanis to talk to the UN Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Assembly, Mr Kiai, during his visit to Oman.The magazine published number of articles on corruption in government departments, including the Public Prosecution Office. It is believed that these articles may have been the motivation for the arrests and harassments.
After urgent appeals by human rights organisations including Al-Karama, he was released days before Kiai’s visit and put under strict surveillance. Months later when al-Fazari tried to travel from the airport, his identity documents were confiscated and he was prevented from travelling overseas.
Political arrests
On 11 June 2012, in front of General Command of Police, Mohammed was arrested. He did not get a lawyer during the arrest. The time between the arrest and the sentence of the first instance, were he in jail 2 months.
Oman’s Internal Security service held him incommunicado in solitary confinement in a cell with a bright light that was never turned off, with handcuffs and black cover, and subjected him to extensive interrogations for 28 days. Then transferred him to a facility near Sama’il Central Prison, where he spent another 23 days in solitary confinement also. Then he was transferred to a police station with theft and drug prisoners and he spent 8 days, then he transferred again to the facility near Sama’il Central Prison and he spent 18 days. On 8 August 2012, The Court of First Instance in Muscat sentenced Mohammed with 10 other human rights defenders, to one year and half in prison and a fine of 200 Rials (US$520) and a financial guarantee of 3000 Rials (US$7800). The charges were illegal assembly, disturbing public order, violating the cyber-crime law; insult the Sultan, and reducing the prestige of the country.
On 17 March 2013, the Court of Appeal in Muscat ordered his release.
On 30 August 2014, AlFazari was summoned by the General Directorate of Inquiries and criminal investigations of the Oman Police in Muscat. He was detained incommunicado at the Special Division of the Oman Police in Muscat. He did not get a lawyer. The security officials held him in solitary confinement. On 4th of September 2014, Mohammed was released without any charges, but threatened to prosecute him if he continued his criticism of government policies. On 22 December 2014, Mohammed Al-Fazari was stopped at Muscat International airport by security authorities who informed him that a travel ban had been issued against him. He was told that he must appear immediately before the Special Division of the Omani Police in the capital Muscat for an investigation, and when he complied, he was arrested at 12 PM on the same day, until 8 PM before he was released without his official documents (his passport and ID card). No charges were brought against him.
The travel ban was ordered without any warning, as well as the arrest, which took place without a reason being given or any specific charges laid against him. He was on his way to the United Kingdom when authorities informed him about the travel ban.
More than 7 months AlFazari banned from travelling and his passport and ID card is reserved by internal security. Although the Omani legal stipulates clearly that a travel ban and confiscating personal documents is only permissible if the citizen pending issue, and this is what has been denied in Fazari Twitter account more than once. He also said that, he tried to raise an issue of grievance on the intelligence service by the public prosecutor, but public prosecutor refused to receive the case.
Political asylum
On 15 july 2015, Al-Fazari managed to escape Oman without his papers and is currently living as a political refugee in Britain.
Mowatin Magazine
Due to arrests and interrogation of other Al-Mowaten contributing journalists living in Oman, on 14 January 2016, the magazine was forced to cease publishing.