Omani court convicts 31 people over coup plot

A state security court today convicted 31 people of plotting to overthrow the government and sentenced them to prison terms ranging from one to 20 years in prison.

Six defendants were sentenced to 20 years, 12 received 10 year terms, 12 others were sentenced to seven years and one was ordered to spend a year in prison.

The 31 to stand trial in Muscat were among as many as 100 suspected extremists arrested across Oman earlier this year, following unconfirmed reports some had planned to attack events at a popular shopping and cultural festival. Officials have said many of those arrested were released.

Arrests and trials of the defendants have been shrouded in secrecy, with the detentions slow to be acknowledged and only a select few senior Omani journalists permitted inside the courtroom.

The charges against those who were tried included attempting armed overthrow of the regime to establish religious rule, belonging to a secret group, recruiting new members and raising funds.

Oman, a remote country on the southeastern corner of the Arabian peninsula, confirmed the arrests in January, saying the suspects had formed an organisation that threatened national security.