Muscat: The police detained, and later released, six people after protests in Liwa and Sohar on Friday, according to sources from the Industrial Port Town in northern Oman.
The protesters were marching in support of Liwa Shura member Dr Talib Al Maamari.
“The protests started peacefully but later there were some skirmishes reported as security forces tried to deal with them sternly,” an activist told Gulf News on condition of anonymity.
The protesters first marched peacefully in Liwa town and then late in the evening people in Sohar also protested. “Some people burnt tyres and at some places in Sohar, big waste bins were also set on fire,” another source from Sohar said.
However, by midnight, order was restored.
The Public Prosecution has asked Shura to lift immunity on Dr Talib as they want to try him in a court following a complaint by a Housing Ministry employee for a Facebook posting by the Liwa representative in the 84-member elected advisory council (Shura).
According to sources, Dr Al Maamari had asked residents of Liwa not to continue protests as he was confident of coming out clean regarding the Facebook posting.
It appeared Dr Al Maamari was angry at the behaviour of a Housing Ministry employee when he went to visit the Housing Minister regarding some housing issues in Liwa. The Facebook post was regarding that incident and alleged high-handed behaviour of the government employee.
The employee has approached a court in Muscat alleging defamation following the Facebook post.
The Shura is likely to decide on prosecution’s request for lifting immunity on Dr Al Maamari on Tuesday.
