Saudi Arabia: Shootings, Arrests and Unrest Spreads

Saudi security forces have arrested two people after shooting them in al-Awamiyah village situated in the Eastern Province of the kingdom.

via PressTV – Saudi forces arrest 2 people in Awamiyah after shooting them.

This comes after growing unrest in poorer parts of Saudi Arabia:

QATIF: Al-Awamiyah is a small village of shabby houses, narrow streets and dilapidated palm groves that has earned a big reputation as the center of unrest among Saudi Arabia’s Shia Muslim minority.

In two years of persistent protests in Awamiyah and other parts of Qatif district on the Gulf coast, 17 people have died in unrest as Shia youths took to the streets demanding equal treatment from the Sunni Muslim-dominated government.

Big protests erupted in Qatif in early 2011, inspired by the Arab Spring uprisings sweeping the region and feelings of solidarity with Shias in neighboring Bahrain. These drew Qatif into a region-wide contest for influence between Shia Muslim Iran and Sunni Arab states such as Saudi Arabia.

via - “Saudi Shias fear new unrest after ‘spy’ arrests”

And protests over the death sentence of a religious leader:

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) – In an exclusive interview with IRNA, Maulana Syed Jalal Haider Naqvi, President of Shaheed Mottahhari Society in New Delhi said: “The arrest and awarding death sentence to Sheikh Nimr and his associates, key proponents of equal rights for Shia and Sunni Muslims of Saudi Arabia, is an unprecedented and dangerous action by Saudi Monarch”. Saudi regime should desist to act on the dictation of arrogant powers, he added.

Applauding the courage of Al Nimr, who is also a key proponent of women’s rights in Saudi Arabia, the Shia scholar noted that Sheikh raised the voice against Saudi regime’s oppression and was asking for the fundamental rights. His fight has given hope to the oppressed of the country.

He urged the Saudi Muslims to stand against the forces working behind the scenes to create rifts between Muslim brethren. Raise voices against this barbaric treatment meted out to Al-Nimr and his associates. Condem the oppression of the Shia population.

via – “Arrogant powers dictate to Saudi Monarchy: Indian Shia Scholar“