Muscat: Police have refuted what it called ‘rumours’ of a hunger strike at an Omani prison, according to a statement issued by the Royal Oman Police (ROP).
Social media users have alleged that a hunger strike was taking place at Rustaq prison.
The ROP gave no further details.
In November, 2015, Omani authorities had denied that 1,800 Omani inmates went on a hunger strike at the high-security Central prison in Samayil province after their names were not included on the annual royal pardon list.
The royal pardon included only those who had completed three quarters of their sentence while also holding a good behaviour record.According to Omani Penal Law, individual amnesties are only given by a royal decree, as per article 65 and 66, and do not require the prisoner to have completed three quarters of the sentence.
Sultan Qaboos Bin Saeed, issued another royal pardon for 160 inmates in November 18, 2015, including 76 foreigners, on the occasion of the 45th National Day, which fell on November 18.
Such decrees are issued on occasions like the National Day, Ramadan, Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha every year.
