Saudi Shias Stage Protest in Qatif Province

28 February, 2011 12:55

Saudi Shias Stage Protest in Qatif Province

Saudi Shia held a demonstration in the Eastern province, close to Bahrain, days after authorities freed Shi’ite prisoners following a similar protest.

Dozens of Shi’ites gathered on Thursday night in Qatif, the main Shi’ite town in the Eastern province, to demand the release of fellow prisoners held for long periods without trial , resident Shi’ite sources said on Saturday.

It said protesters had carried pictures of prisoners whose release they demand.

Analysts say top OPEC exporter Saudi Arabia would be worried if protests in Bahrain, where majority Shi’ites have been demonstrating against the Saudi government, spread to its Shi’ite minority who mostly live in the Eastern province, the source of Saudi oil wealth.

Saudi Arabia applies an austere Wahhabis and minority Shi’ites say that they face discrimination, can not do freely their religious activities, some mosques are closed, also they don’t have permission to hold friday prayer and every one who participate in religious cermonies will be arrest for a long time.

Awwamiya was the scene of protests for weeks in 2009 after police launched a search for Shi’ite preacher Nimr al-Nimr.