Saudi Arabia threatens ‘firm hand’ on protests

Saudi Arabia has threatened to intensify crackdown on protests calling for the release of political prisoners.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the Saudi Interior Ministry warned the Saudi public against staging demonstrations in the kingdom in support of the prisoners and pledged to deal “firmly” with those participating in such protest rallies, AFP reported.

According to the Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association, there are about 30,000 political prisoners in the kingdom.

Human Rights Watch has said the Saudi regime “routinely represses expression critical of the government.”

On August 13, Swedish Defense Minister Karin Enstrom criticized Saudi Arabia for its human rights violations, describing the kingdom as “an authoritarian regime and an absolute monarchy where serious human rights crimes are committed.”

Since February 2011, protesters have held numerous demonstrations in Saudi Arabia, mainly in Qatif and Awamiyah in the Eastern Province, to call for the release of all political prisoners, freedom of expression and assembly, as well as an end to widespread discrimination against Shias.