US embassy cable - 05MUSCAT931

C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 000931 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/11/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PINS, KISL, MU, Domestic Politics, Human Rights (General) 
SUBJECT: SULTAN PARDONS CONVICTED IBADHIS 
 
REF: MUSCAT 830 AND PREVIOUS 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard L. Baltimore III. 
Reason: 1.4 (b, d). 
 
------- 
Summary 
------- 
 
1. (C) Sultan Qaboos issued a decree June 9 pardoning the 
thirty-one Ibadhis sentenced May 2 for belonging to a secret 
organization and seeking to overthrow the state.  It is 
unknown if the thirty-one, who include several high-ranking 
officials, will be permitted to return to their jobs.  We 
believe that there have been other arrests, primarily from 
the military and security services, in connection with this 
same secret organization, though their cases have never been 
officially acknowledged.  End summary. 
 
---------------- 
A Pardonable Sin 
---------------- 
 
2. (SBU) On June 9, upon his return from a 5-week vacation in 
Egypt and visits to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, Sultan Qaboos 
issued a royal decree officially pardoning the thirty-one 
Ibadhis convicted on May 2 of belonging to an illegal 
organization and seeking to overthrow the state.  While the 
pardon itself came as little surprise, the timing was earlier 
than expected.  Ramadan or official holidays in the fall have 
traditionally been the time of royal pardons.  While the 
convicted's sentences had ranged from 1-20 years, none had 
been in custody longer than approximately December 2004.  It 
remains to be seen whether or not those released will be 
permitted to return to their jobs, particularly given that 
several of them held high-level positions.  A similar series 
of arrests in 1994 against an alleged Muslim Brotherhood cell 
did not prevent some of those pardoned defendants from 
regaining their government jobs. 
 
---------------------------------- 
Others Allegedly Still Behind Bars 
---------------------------------- 
 
3. (C) Credible rumors continue to circulate on the Internet 
and among diplomatic circles that a double-digit number of 
other Omanis, particularly from the military and security 
services, remain in custody for also belonging to the alleged 
illegal Ibadhi organization.  Forty-three military personnel 
are said to have been court marshaled, but the case has never 
been reported officially, in contrast to the public trial of 
the thirty-one just pardoned by the Sultan. 
 
---------------------------------------- 
Secrecy, Not Religion, Cause for Concern 
---------------------------------------- 
 
4. (C) A Ministry of Religious Affairs contact told us 
recently that the thirty-one Ibadhis sentenced in May, of 
whom several were his co-workers, were primarily guilty of 
having applied Muslim Brotherhood organizational tactics in 
secretly setting up their group.  The contact charged that 
 
SIPDIS 
many of the group of thirty-one were educated in Jordan at 
institutions heavily infiltrated by Muslim Brotherhood 
sympathizers, from whom they gleamed insights on tactics but 
not theology.  Otherwise, the contact reiterated government 
assurances that the group had no other links to foreign 
organizations, including for financing or weapons. 
 
------- 
Comment 
------- 
 
5. (C) The security services succeeded in reminding the 
public that it remains vigilant, while the Sultan perpetuates 
his reputation for handling his opponents with a soft touch. 
While this "catch and release" strategy creates burdens for 
the security services, the Sultan's longevity and Oman's firm 
reputation as the most peaceful corner of an often violent 
region speaks for itself. 
BALTIMORE