February 26, 2021 The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a partnership of the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and FIDH, requests your urgent intervention in the following situation in Oman. Description of the situation The Observatory has been informed by the Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) about the arbitrary detention of Dr. A hmed Issa Qatan, an environmental rights defender and specialist in desalination of sea water, who defends the preservation of green areas and their natural heritage in the Dhofar Plain of the Dhofar Governorate in Oman. On February 23, 2021, Dr. Issa Qatan was arrested by the Internal Security Service (ISS) upon arrival at the Special Division of the Salalah Police Command where he had been summoned to appear the same day. During interrogations, Dr. Issa Qatan was denied access to his lawyer.