Elevate your local knowledge

Sign up for the iNFOnews newsletter today!

Select Region

Selecting your primary region ensures you get the stories that matter to you first.

2 Oman newspaper journalists freed pending appeal of case

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Two newspaper journalists in Oman have been freed pending an appeal of their criminal convictions over their reporting on an alleged corruption case.

The advocacy group Reporters Without Borders says Azamn newspaper’s editor-in-chief Ibrahim al-Maamari and deputy editor-in-chief Youssef al-Haj were released on bail Tuesday.

The two men were sentenced in September to three years in prison over their reporting on alleged corruption in Oman’s judiciary. Al-Haj also was found guilty of slander and violating a gag order for reporting on al-Maamari’s initial arrest.

A third journalist, Zaher al-Abri, was released earlier after being sentenced to one year in prison.

Rights groups have roundly criticized the case.

Oman, a Gulf Arab country on the Arabian Peninsula, is a close U.S. ally and is ruled by Sultan Qaboos bin Said.

News from © The Associated Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community?

The Associated Press

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.