Mohammed al-Fazari

Mohammed al-Fazari is an Omani journalist, blogger, political activist, and human rights defender. He founded and serves as the editor-in-chief of Mowatin Magazine, an independent electronic journal launched in June 2013 that highlights news and events in Oman and the Arabian Gulf, emphasizing human rights and freedom of expression. The magazine addresses topics often suppressed by the Omani press and advocates for public freedoms.

In Oman, security forces often harass and prosecute activists on broad charges like insulting the sultan or undermining state prestige. Al-Fazari, arrested multiple times for his activism, participated in the 2011 Arab Spring protests advocating for democratic reforms and transparency. He faced repeated arrests and solitary confinement in 2012 and 2013, including charges of “insulting the sultan” and “illegal gathering,” and was briefly detained again in 2014. Subsequently, the government confiscated his and his family’s passports, restricting their movement against the Arab Charter on Human Rights, which Oman has signed. Al-Fazari is currently in the United Kingdom. In January 2016, Mowatin announced a publishing halt due to safety concerns for its writers and journalists.