Muscat likely to establish human rights committee

Muscat: Oman is considering a proposal for a human rights committee in the country, according to a report ina leading Arabic daily here on Saturday.

According to the report in Al Shabiba, a senior cabinet minister and a Royal Family member the Omani government was not averse to setting up a human rights forum. "Why not, if such a forum is required in the future?" Al Shabiba quoted Saeed Fahd Bin Mahmoud Al Saeed, Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers, as saying.

The report further says that the formation of such a committee is being considered by the Council of Ministers. Quoting un-named sources the report adds that the study is almost complete, and a recommendation is expected to be submitted to Sultan Qaboos Bin Saeed for his approval.

"The Basic Law of the State ensures human rights and not a single case of torture of citizens has been reported throughout the history of the Sultanate," the report quotes a source.

The formation of the committee has come at a time when the Sultanate's jails are free of any political inmates, says the report.

Hussain Bin Ali Al Hilali, the public prosecutor, told the Arabic daily that prosecution has so far not registered any case on torture or rights violations.