Oman activist released after more than 48 hours in custody

Muscat: Leading Omani activist Basma Al Kiyumi has been released after over 48 hours in custody.

And Gulf News has learned that 27 activists are to be tried on Wednesday at the Primary Court in Muscat.

Basma, a lawyer by profession, was taken to the Public Prosecutor's office late on Monday night before her release. She has been charged with violating prohibitory orders against assembly in front of the Majlis Al Shura Office in Muscat.

"I have to report to the Public Prosecutor (Wednesday)," she told Gulf News Tuesday over the phone.

Basma said that she and 14 others were taken away by the army after they refused to leave from outside the Shura office on Saturday.

Some 50 activists had gathered for demonstrations, demanding the release of the activists held last weekend in Salalah, Sur and Muscat.

Security agencies

The security agencies broke up sit-ins in three major cities on Thursday and also removed tents erected by protesters since February 25.

Basma said that she had refused to take food during her captivity. "I was taken to the Qurum Headquarters of the security agency and then from there they moved me," she said.

'Moved me at night'

Basma shifted from Qurum Headquarters to a house later. "I was shifted to a house in a covered vehicle so I could not make out where they moved me at night," she said.

The UK-educated lawyer said that she was interrogated in the presence of a female officer. "I declined to cooperate with my interrogators until I was produced before the Public Prosecution and I also refused to eat," she said, adding that during her captivity she was treated very well by the security agencies.

Pressure to sign

"They put pressure on me through my father to sign a bond, pledging that I would not indulge in such acts again," she revealed.

However, Basma told her interrogators that she was herself a practicing lawyer and knew her rights. "I did not give in to pressure tactics."

Asked about the whereabouts of others, Basma said that she was not aware about the others held during demonstrations outside Shura office.

She said she was taken to the Public Prosecutor at around 10pm and after two hours she was released. "They handed over my phone and car keys after the release," she said.

Basma confirmed that some 15 activists courted arrest on Saturday of the nearly 50 who turned up to protest.