Saudi protesters call for prisoners’ release
Demonstrators gather in Qatif following the arrest of cleric Sheikh Nemr al-Nemr on July 8, 2012.
Fri Aug 10, 2012 7:49AM GMT
People in Taif in the southwest of the country demonstrated on Thursday to express solidarity with political prisoners.
The protesters also demanded an end to rights violations in the monarchy.
Saudi Arabia has arrested scores of anti-government protesters since the beginning of the uprising in the country. Prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Nemr Baqir al-Nemr is among the detainees.
Sheikh Nemr was injured and arrested by Saudi security forces of the Al Saud regime while driving from a farm to his house in Qatif on July 8.
Since February 2011, protesters have held demonstrations on an almost regular basis in the Kingdom's east, mainly in Qatif and Awamiyah.
The demonstrators called for the release of all political prisoners, freedom of expression and assembly, and an end to widespread discrimination.
However, the demonstrations have turned into protests against the repressive Al Saud regime, especially since November 2011, when Saudi security forces killed five protesters and injured many others in the oil-rich region.