Oman's state security court yesterday handed jail terms of between one and 20 years to 31 Islamists accused of plotting to overthrow the government and membership of a banned organization.
Defense lawyers had argued that their clients were innocent of the charges against them and had merely sought to promote the teachings of the sultanate's majority Ibadi sect.
Judge Hilal bin Hamad Busaidi said the defendants, all Omanis, could not appeal the verdict but could ask for a pardon from the Gulf state's ruler Sultan Qaboos within 30 days.
Thirty were convicted of plotting to "overthrow the regime by force of arms and replace it by an imamate, by setting up a banned underground organization."
The accused, who were all in court, were also convicted of conducting military training, arming members with weapons obtained illegally and holding meetings aimed at recruiting new members.
PRISON TERMS
Six defendants, accused of being leaders of the group, were sentenced to 20 years in jail.
Twelve were sentenced to 10 years, another 12 to seven years, while the 31st, who was acquitted of seeking to overthrow the regime, received a one-year jail sentence for holding weapons without a license.
Qaboos must ratify the sentences. The Omani ruler commuted death sentences handed down to defendants in a trial of a Sunni Islamist organization in 1994.
The latest trial was the first of its kind to be open to a selected public and relatives, reporters and members of Oman's appointed state council and elected consultative council were at the hearing, which lasted just 20 minutes.
Defense lawyers said their clients' possession of weapons was in keeping with Omani norms and that the worst they could be accused of was holding firearms without a permit.
PARDON REQUESTED
The defendants, who were arrested in January, had pleaded not guilty to the charge of plotting to overthrow the regime, although some of them expressed "regret" and asked Qaboos to pardon them.
An offshoot of a dissident Shiite sect, the Ibadis are named after their founder, Abdullah bin Ibadh al-Maqissi, originally from Ibadh in Saudi Arabia. The faith was introduced to Oman in the 8th century.
Ibadis believe the people should appoint imams to head the Muslim community.
Unconfirmed reports at the time of the arrests said the group was suspected of planning attacks on the Muscat festival -- a trade and cultural event spanning part of January and February -- as well as commercial centers and oil installations.
Police last week showed reporters some of the weapons seized with the accused, including around 40 Kalashnikov assault rifles, nine pistols and a large quantity of ammunition.
But the authorities played down any threat of attacks of the sort that have shaken Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Yemen and which have been blamed on Sunni Islamist militants linked to al-Qaeda.
Up to 200 supporters of the group staged a peaceful march in Muscat on Sunday to demand their acquittal. Demonstrations are banned in Oman, as in other Gulf Arab states.
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