The Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) expresses its full solidarity with online activist and religious preacher Talal bin Ahmed Al-Salmani, who was imprisoned after his one-year sentence was upheld on fabricated charges.

On 14 May 2025, the Court of Appeal in Muscat, after just one session, upheld the initial one-year prison sentence, but ordered Al-Salmani to serve only three months in prison. The court’s ruling was swift and lacked the minimum international standards for fair trial and due process.

Reliable local reports confirmed that, upon receipt of the ruling, he was imprisoned in the Central Prison in Samail, south west of the capital Muscat, to serve his sentence.

The Court of First Instance in Muscat issued on 10 April 2025 a one-year prison sentence and a fine of 500 Omani riyals against Al-Salmani, after convicting him of the misdemeanour of participating in a gathering. He was also sentenced to a second year in prison for the misdemeanour of broadcasting news and rumours that undermined the prestige of the state. The court decided to combine the two sentences and implement the harsher one, meaning the first sentence, which also included a fine, was retained.

Previously, on 17 April 2025, he had been released from prison on bail of 800 Omani riyals after filing the appeal against his prison sentence.

For more information about his case, click here.

Civil society activists and their colleagues have no doubt that the Internal Security Service (ISS) orchestrated this expedited trial, sending a message of intimidation and fear to all citizens who intend to hold similar peaceful marches and gatherings.

GCHR condemns in the strongest terms the arbitrary arrest, sham trial, and imprisonment of online activist and religious preacher Talal bin Ahmed Al-Salmani by the authorities. GCHR calls on the Omani authorities to release him immediately and unconditionally, revoke the sentence against him, and refrain from targeting him and his colleagues in the future.

GCHR also calls on the ISS to cease its systematic repressive policies and ensure the protection of citizens’ public freedoms, including the freedom of peaceful assembly.