The
right of Omanis to peaceful
assembly is "virtually **n-existent in practice" a United Nations special
rapporteur said on Saturday during a visit to the Gulf Arab monarchy, which detained hundreds in 2011 after quashing pro-democracy protests. "In my meetings with the government, I observed a consistent focus on maintaining peace, order and stability in Oman, often used as the rationale for limiting
assembly and association rights," said Maina Kiai, UN Special
rapporteur on the rights of peaceful
assembly and association. "Oman's basic law (its constitution) guarantees the
right to peaceful assembly...within the limits of the law. He said the government denied it had breached rights of peaceful
assembly or association.
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