Saudi Violence Continues Against Its Eastern Citizens

The move came nearly one week after Riyadh sent over 40 military vehicles to the region to suppress civilian protesters.

While protests and political gatherings of any kind are prohibited in the absolute monarchy, hundreds of Saudis have staged protest rallies in Qatif and Awamiyah and some other towns in Eastern Province over the past weeks, demanding political reforms, the release of political prisoners, the freedom of expression and respect of human rights.

Saudi protesters have also called for the withdrawal of their country's troops from neighboring Bahrain, where Saudi-backed Bahraini forces have launched a deadly crackdown on peaceful anti-regime protesters.

Last Monday, Saudi security troops opened fire on hundreds of anti-government protesters in Awamiyah, in Qatif, injuring tens of activists, including three women.
 
A fresh round of protests in Qatif has begun since Saudi security forces arrested two senior citizens, including a 60-year-old man.

Since then, hundreds of Saudis have been gathering outside the police headquarters in Qatif, demanding the immediate release of detainees. Security forces disperse such crowd using force.

Saudi activists say there are more than 30,000 political prisoners, mostly prisoners of conscious, in jails across the Arab kingdom.

According to activists, most of the detained political thinkers are being held by the government without trial or legitimate charges and that they were arrested for merely being suspicious.

Some of the detainees are reported to be held without trial for more than 16 years.

The Saudi government has been frequently criticized by human rights groups.
 

Western governments, however, have remained silent on the human rights violations of the kingdom.


Source: News Agencies, Edited by moqawama.org