Qaboos bin
Said al Said issues royal pardon to estimated 50 protesters in effort to salve
unrest inspired by Arab spring
guardian.co.uk,
Reuters in Muscat, Friday 22 March 2013
 |
| Sultan Qaboos bin Said of Oman has sought to ease public discontent with a variety of populist policies. Photograph: Stefan Zaklin/EPA |
The sultan
of Oman has pardoned all dissidents who were jailed for defaming him or taking
part in protests, in the latest effort to defuse unrest inspired by the Arab
spring.
Oman's
state news agency did not say how many prisoners would be freed, but activists
say courts sentenced at least 50 dissidents to jail terms of up to 18 months
last year.
"His
Majesty Sultan Qaboos has issued a royal pardon for those convicted of
defamation, information technology crimes and unauthorised rallies," the
agency said.
Last week a
court freed eight activists who went on hunger strike in February saying they
had been sentenced unfairly. The court ordered a retrial.
In recent
months the government has sought to ease public discontent by announcing plans
to limit the number of foreign workers and sharply raise the minimum wage for
citizens in a drive to increase their employment.
Oman, which
sits on the Strait of Hormuz through which about 40% of the world's seaborne
oil exports passes, has also pledged to create tens of thousands of public
sector jobs. But delays in implementing the promises have kept protests
simmering, with some anger focused on the 72-year-old sultan.
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