Saudi forces attack Qatif protesters
\n11 January 2012 – PressTV<\/p>\n
Saudi security forces have fired live bullets to disperse an anti-government protest rally in the eastern city of Qatif, reports say. <\/p>\n
Saudi protesters were demanding the release of political prisoners. There were no immediate reports of casualties. <\/p>\n
Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province has been witnessing demonstrations almost on a daily basis over the past months. Protesters demand political reforms, greater liberties, freedom of expression and the release of political prisoners some held without trial for more than 16 years. <\/p>\n
They have also condemned economic and religious discrimination in the oil-rich region and their government’s involvement in a brutal crackdown on protesters in neighboring Bahrain. <\/p>\n
Activists say there are more than 30,000 political prisoners held in jails across Saudi Arabia, who, the Saudi-based Human Rights First Society says, are being subjected to both physical and mental torture. <\/p>\n
According to rights activists, most of the detained are being held without trial or legitimate charges and have been arrested on grounds of mere suspicion. <\/p>\n
Anti-government protests in the Kingdom have intensified since November, when security forces opened fire on protesters in Qatif, killing five people and leaving many more injured. <\/p>\n
The repression of peaceful protesters has drawn condemnation from Amnesty International and other human rights organizations. …source<\/a><\/p>\n