Mohammed Alfazari

On 5 May 2017 Gulf centre for human rights published a report about Muwatin Magazine: "Authorities in Oman continue their systematic campaign to confiscate public freedoms in the country, including freedom of the press. The latest of their arbitrary procedures is the blocking of the website of the online magazine “Muwatin” (“Citizen”).

Reports received by the Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) confirmed that on the morning of 3 May 2017, which is World Press Freedom Day, the Internal Security Service (ISS) ordered the competent authorities to completely block the website of “Muwatin” throughout the country.

Due to arrests and interrogation of other Muwatin contributing journalists living in Oman, on 14 January 2016, the magazine was forced to cease publishing.

On 14 January 2016, “Muwatin” published a statement in which it announced that it would stop publishing until further notice because of what it described as “circumstances beyond its control, the most important being the safety of writers and journalists of “Muwatin”.

On 15 July 2015, Alfazari managed to escape Oman without his papers and is currently living as a political refugee in Britain.

on 22 December 2014, he was prevented from boarding his flight, imposed a travel ban, and his travel documents, including his passport, were confiscated at Muscat International Airport. As a result of the intransigence of the authority a group of prominent Omani intellectuals (writers, lawyers, journalists) has initiated to issue a statement demanding the authority to return documents back as there is no legal justification for such arbitrary action without providing any reasons more than 8 months . On 27 March 2015, mandates of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression; the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association; and the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders issued a statement condemning the violation against Alfazari . Because of the intransigence of the authority in not returning his documents and continuing violations, On 17 July 2015 Alfazari left Oman seeking for political asylum in the UK .

On 30 August 2014, Alfazari was summoned by the General Directorate of Inquiries and criminal investigations of the Oman Police in Muscat. He was detained incommunicado at the Special Division of the Oman Police in Muscat. He did not get a lawyer. The security officials held him in solitary confinement. On 4 September 2014, Mohammed was released without any charges but threatened to prosecute him if he continued his criticism of government policies. On 22 December 2014, Mohammed Alfazari was stopped at Muscat International airport by security authorities who informed him that a travel ban had been issued against him. He was told that he must appear immediately before the Special Division of the Omani Police in the capital Muscat for an investigation, and when he complied, he was arrested at 12 PM on the same day, until 8 PM before he was released without his official documents (his passport and ID card). No charges were brought against him.

In 2013, Alfazari published a novel called "Khattab". In 2016, he prepared and edited a political book called “Oman.. present challenges and future results”. Recently in 2018, Alfazari published his second novel called "Uncertainty".

In 2013, Alfarazi founded Al-Mowaten, an independent news magazine concerning Omani society - after which he says his life became exceedingly difficult. In August 2014, he was arrested "for reasons that concern him personally" after calling upon Omanis to talk to the UN Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Assembly, Mr Kiai, during his visit to Oman. The magazine published the number of articles on corruption in government departments, including the Public Prosecution Office. It is believed that these articles may have been the motivation for the arrests and harassments.

On 17 March 2013, the Court of Appeal in Muscat ordered his release.

Muwatin Media Network (MMN) is a media company based in London founded by Mohammed Alfazari basically in Oman in 2013 however, due to the political circumstances he had to move it to London. There are several projects under the umbrella of (MMN) such as Muwatin Magazine (a news magazine), Muwatin Post (a news website) and Muwatin Café which is a London-based cultural salon.

“Muwatin” Magazine is an independent electronic journal founded on 6 June 2013, and according to its website, it “monitors the events of the community and takes care of citizens' issues in Oman and the Persian Gulf.” One of its objectives is to try to create an environment for a free press and to discuss the issues that are concealed in the press owned by the authorities. It is currently published from the United Kingdom.

On 11 June 2012, in front of General Command of Police, Mohammed was arrested. He did not get a lawyer during the arrest. The time between the arrest and the sentence of the first instance, were he in jail 2 months.

Oman's Internal Security service held him incommunicado in solitary confinement in a cell with a bright light that was never turned off, with handcuffs and black cover, and subjected him to extensive interrogations for 28 days. Then transferred him to a facility near Sama’il Central Prison, where he spent another 23 days in solitary confinement also. Then he was transferred to a police station with theft and drug prisoners and he spent 8 days, then he transferred again to the facility near Sama’il Central Prison and he spent 18 days. On 8 August 2012, The Court of First Instance in Muscat sentenced Mohammed with 10 other human rights defenders, to one year and a half in prison and a fine of 200 Rials (US$520) and a financial guarantee of 3000 Rials (US$7800). The charges were illegal assembly, disturbing public order, violating the cyber-crime law; insult the Sultan, and reducing the prestige of the country.

Mohammad Alfazari is an Omani who has suffered reprisals for speaking his mind on the government and demanding civil and political freedom. A participant in the 2011 Arab Spring protests, Alfarazi protested for democracy, a real parliament with legislative powers, a new contractual constitution, transparency and separation of powers. Throughout 2012 and 2013, Alfazari faced numerous arbitrary arrests and interrogations, including charges of "insulting the sultan" and engaging in an "illegal gathering".

Mohammed Alfazari (Arabic: lمحمد الفزاري ‎; born 27 September 1988) is an Omani (academic, author, journalist, and political activist). He is the founder and the editor in chief of Muwatin Media Network. Muwatin is a news magazine and a news website.. He is known for his reformist political activities and opposition to the government in Oman. Owing to the fact that he did not appease the authorities, Alfazari has been arrested and jailed many times for explicit or inferred opposition to the Government or its policies.