Saudi protesters urge release of political prisoners

Dozens of Saudis have staged a protest in front of a notorious prison in a province north of Riyadh to press for the release of political prisoners.

During the rally on Thursday, the protestors also condemned the arbitrary detention of prisoners in the Tafiya prison near the Qassim province and the harsh conditions, they are held in. Saudi security forces intervened to break up the gathering.

On Monday, Saudi security forces detained dozens of people who had staged a demonstration near the same prison, demanding the release of their relatives.

Saudi Arabia has been under fire for its human rights record especially for the detention of many anti-government protesters since the onset of a popular uprising in the country last year.

Rights activists say hundreds of political prisoners remain locked up in Saudi jails under harsh conditions and without access to legal representation.

People are randomly arrested by the Saudi police just for looking suspicious, and are held behind bars for years before even being charged.

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

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