Bahrainis rally to support Shia cleric detained in Saudi Arabia

Bahrainis have taken to the streets in several villages to hold demonstrations in solidarity with a detained Shia cleric in Saudi Arabia on Sunday.

The demonstrators expressed solidarity with prominent cleric Sheikh Nemr al-Nemr, who was attacked in his car and arrested in the Qatif region of the Eastern Province on Sunday.

Saudi regime forces opened fire on a similar demonstration held in Qatif on the same day, killing two protesters.

According to the Human Rights Watch, the Saudi regime “routinely represses expression critical of the government.”

Meanwhile, Bahrainis continue demonstrations against the ruling Al Khalifa family despite the Manama regime’s violent crackdown.

In mid-March 2011, Saudi Arabia, along with the United Arab Emirates, deployed troops in Bahrain to help the Manama regime crush anti-government demonstrations.