Saudi protests not restricted to Shias but directed at all Muslims

Saudi protests not restricted to Shias but all Muslims
17 October 2011 – Islamic Invitation

Over the past few decades, protests against discrimination and inequality in Saudi Arabia have always been censored by the government. And the demonstrations are not occurring only in the eastern region of the country, which has a large Shia population. Many Shia citizens in Mecca, Medina, and cities on the Red Sea coast have also protested against the policies adopted by the Saudi ruling family.

Saudi Arabia is a diverse society in terms of religious denominations and the current protests can actually be regarded as a sign of the government’s inability to satisfy the needs and address the interests of all denominational groups.

However, the protests are not restricted to the Shias. The Sunnis, the country’s denominational majority, are also greatly dissatisfied with the current situation and are striving for more freedom within the autocratic ruling system.

The Saudi monarchy does not grant its citizens basic civil liberties, such as the right to vote, the right to self-determination, minority rights, and freedom of the press and the media, and the political structure of the country is reactionary and based on tribalism.

In fact, the Saudi government is trying to present a false image of itself to the world and convince everyone that it is following a system of governance that is completely based on Islamic principles and which should be regarded as an exemplary Islamic authority. However, the current Saudi system is just the opposite and does not grant its citizens the least of the rights that are clearly mentioned in the tenets of Islam and especially in the traditions of the Prophet Muhammad (S).

Their cooperation with the arrogant powers of the West in the name of Islam and their support of dictators in countries like Bahrain and Yemen are additional signs of Riyadh’s paradoxical conduct, which has been strongly criticized by Saudi citizens during the recent demonstrations.

The protests in Saudi Arabia will continue to evolve into an uprising that is completely Islamic in nature. Islam never tolerates repression of the people under the pretext of defending the faith. …source