Thousands Stage Protest against Saudi Regime in Qatif (+Video)
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Thousands of Shiite minorities living in the eastern Saudi city of Qatif participated in a protest against the regime forces during funeral ceremony of martyrs who were killed by the Saudi military, while shouting the slogan of death to Al Saud.
Meanwhile, more reports from the region indicated heavy presence of Saudi military vehicles surround al-Buhari and al-Qadih villages near al-Awamiyah which is located 2km to the northwest of Qatif.
Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia has been the scene of peaceful demonstrations since February 2011. Protesters have been demanding reforms, freedom of expression, the release of political prisoners, and an end to economic and religious discrimination against the oil-rich region.
The protests have been met with a heavy-handed crackdown by the regime, with regime forces increasing security measures across the province.
Over the past years, Riyadh has also redefined its anti-terrorism laws to target activism.
In January 2016, Saudi authorities executed Shiite cleric Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr, who was an outspoken critic of the Riyadh regime. Nimr had been arrested in Qatif in 2012.