Oman criticizes newspaper after editor-in-chief detained
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Oman's government has criticized a newspaper for publishing a story alleging improper interference in a court case, its first official comment since authorities detained the paper's editor-in-chief.
Rights groups have called for Oman to release Ibrahim al-Maamari of the daily Arabic newspaper Azamn, who is held over the story.
Oman issued the statement via its state-run news agency late Tuesday night. The statement says the judiciary "should be an object of respect and gratification rather than a target of deliberate accusations meant to shake confidence."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The statement went on to say the sultanate's government "has taken legal action against the perpetrators ... but without excess or exaggeration." It did not elaborate.
The U.S.-based watchdog Freedom House considers Oman, ruled by Sultan Qaboos bin Said, as "not free."