Hundreds of Saudi Shi’as Protest Against Al Saud Rule in Awamiyah

Hundreds of Saudi Shi’as Protest Against Al Saud Rule in Awamiyah
ABNA.co 02 February, 2012

Hundreds of Anti-government protesters have rallied in the Saudi city of Awamiyah to condemn Riyadh’s brutal crackdown on protests in Eastern Province.

Hundreds of Saudi Shi(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) – Hundreds of Anti-government protesters have rallied in the Saudi city of Awamiyah to condemn Riyadh’s brutal crackdown on protests in Eastern Province.

Shouting slogans against members of the ruling Al Saud family, including the Crown Prince Nayef, the demonstrators denounced the recent killings of anti-government protesters in the oil-rich region, demanding an end to the suppression of peaceful protests.

They also condemned economic and religious discrimination in the region.

Witnesses say security forces shot into the air to intimidate and disperse protesters, there were no immediate reports of casualties.

Saudis hold peaceful demonstrations since February last year on an almost regular basis in the eastern region, demanding reforms, freedom of expression and the release of political prisoners.

Activists say there are more than 30,000 political prisoners held in jails across Saudi Arabia who, the Saudi-based Human Rights First Society says, are being subjected to both physical and mental torture.

According to rights activists, most of the detained are being held without trial or legitimate charges and have been arrested on grounds of mere suspicion.

Anti-government protests in the Kingdom have intensified since November, when security forces opened fire on protesters in Qatif, killing five people and leaving many more injured.

Riyadh has intensified its crackdown on protesters since the beginning of 2012. …source