Mohammed Alfazari

Al-Fazari studied undergraduate at Sultan Qaboos University - College of Education, and obtained a master's degree with distinction from SOAS, University of London - Department of Politics and International Studies. His thesis was "Control of Information: A Study of the Political Regime of Oman and Omani Media".

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, Alfarazi protested for democracy, a real parliament with legislative powers, a new contractual constitution, transparency, and separation of powers. Throughout 2012 and 2013, al-Fazari faced numerous arbitrary arrests and interrogations, including charges of "insulting the Sultan" and engaging in an "illegal gathering".

In 2013, Alfarazi founded Muwatin Media Network, an independent online Media non-profit company 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. "Muwatin" published a 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 organizations 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 traveling overseas.[8]

On 11 June 2012, in front of the 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 for 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 a 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 cybercrime 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, al-Fazari 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 4 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.

For more than 7 months al-Fazari banned from traveling and his passport and ID card are reserved for 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 the public prosecutor refused to receive the case.[7]

On 15 July 2015, al-Fazari managed to escape Oman without his papers and is currently living as a political refugee in Britain.[8]

Muwatin Media Network (MMN) is a media company based in London founded by Mohammed al-Fazari basically in Oman in 2013 however, due to the political circumstances he had to move it to London.[1]

Due to arrests and interrogation of other Muwatin contributing journalists living in Oman, on 14 January 2016, Muwatin was forced to cease publishing.[8]

It is a periodical issued by Muwatin Media Network.

• Khattab "a novel" - 2013
  
• Oman.. present challenges and future results “articles and interviews” - 2016
  
• Uncertainty "a novel" - 2018. [9]
• Control of Information: A Study of the Political Regime of Oman and Omani Media" - 2020. [10]

• Official website