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WORLD REPORT 2014OmanOmani authorities in 2013 restricted the right to freedom of expression throughthe use of criminal defamation laws. Despite a royal pardon on March 21 ofmore than 35 activists convicted in 2012 on charges of “insulting the Sultan”and participating in unauthorized protests, officials continued to harass anddetain pro-reform activists in 2013, creating little opportunity for citizens toimpact the government and its policies.Omani authorities restricted the right to freedom of assembly both in law and inpractice, using force to break up peaceful demonstrations, and arresting individualspresent at protests. In one case, officials arrested and detained a ShuraCouncil member who attended the demonstration on charges of inciting violenceand wrongful public assembly.Although Oman’s constitution bans discrimination based on gender, womenand girls face discrimination in family law.Pro-Reform ActivistsThe government continued to harass and detain Omani pro-reform activists in2013. In March, Sultan Qabus pardoned activists convicted in 2012 on chargesof “insulting the sultan” and “illegal gathering” after the courts had sentencedthem to between 6 and 18 months in prison. At least 31 of the activists hadgone on a hunger strike in February to protest the delay of the Omani SupremeCourt in hearing their appeals.In January, Omani authorities arrested human rights activist and blogger SaeedJaddad, 43, and held him for eight days in solitary confinement on chargesincluding calling for demonstrations and heaping discredit on state officialsbefore releasing him on bail. Jaddad has called for political and social reformsin posts on Facebook and on his blog.On July 3, Omani authorities arrested Jaddad again at a rural property he ownsin the Dhofar region, claiming he was inhabiting the property illegally. Jaddadsaid he obtained the property through a property swap with the local municipalityand had yet to receive proper documentation. When Jaddad refused to592