The Omani Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (OCHRD), the Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR), and ALQST for Human Rights strongly condemn the Lebanese authorities’ ban on Omani human rights defender Nabhan Al-Hanshi, President of the OCHRD, from entering Lebanon.

On 11 May 2025, upon his arrival at Beirut International Airport from Cairo International Airport, Al-Hanshi was informed by security authorities that he had been put on the list of those banned from entering Lebanon since 2015. No reasons were given for this arbitrary decision, nor was he informed of the legal basis for the decision.

Al-Hanshi is one of the most prominent human rights defenders in the Sultanate of Oman and has resided in the United Kingdom since 2014. He is also a writer and novelist with several publications. He was also a prisoner of conscience in the 2012 “Insulting the Sultan” case. While residing in Beirut in 2013, Al-Hanshi founded the OCHRD. Since its founding, the centre has dedicated its efforts to promoting, defending, and protecting human rights in Oman.

We call on the Lebanese government to remove Nabhan Al-Hanshi’s name from the list of those banned from entering the country and to guarantee his right to enter Lebanon whenever he wishes, while respecting his civil and human rights, foremost among them freedom of movement.