Saudi protesters call for release of jailed women, children

Protesters have taken to the streets across Saudi Arabia to condemn the recent arrest of women and children in demonstrations against the ruling Al Saud regime, 

On Sunday, protests were held in the capital Riyadh, the holy city of Mecca as well as Buraydah.

Earlier in the day, Saudi forces detained dozens of women and children during an anti-regime protest rally in the city of Buraydah.

The protesters were demanding the release of their relatives jailed for political reasons.

Since February 2011, protesters have held demonstrations on an almost regular basis in Saudi Arabia, mainly in Qatif and Awamiyah in Eastern Province.

The demonstrations turned into protests against the Al Saud regime after November 2011, when Saudi security forces killed five protesters and injured many others in the province.

Saudi forces have also arrested dozens of people including prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr.

The country’s officials warned in October, 2012 that they would deal “firmly” with anti-regime demonstrations. Amnesty International slammed the warning, and urged the authorities to “withdraw their threat.”