28 January 2012

Saudis have held a demonstration against the ruling House of Saud in the east of the kingdom.

Protesters in the island of Tarot took to the streets on Wednesday night and chanted “[Crown Prince] Nayef, you are responsible for the killing of protesters,” denouncing the regime's brutal crackdown on pro-democracy rallies.

The demonstrators also demanded the release of thousands of political prisoners, whom the ultraconservative kingdom is holding without charge or trial.

The Saudi regime has recently stepped up its crackdown on the protesters, killing several and wounding many more of them.

On Tuesday, Saudi security forces opened fire on demonstrators in the Qatif region of Eastern Province, injuring many people.

Some of the wounded are reportedly in critical condition. Nine protesters were also arrested during the attack.

On January 12, regime forces killed 22-year-old protester, Essam Mohamed Abu Abdellah, and wounded three others in Awamiyah.

Saudi Arabia's east has been the scene of anti-government protests over the past months, with demonstrators demanding respect for human rights, implementation of reforms, realization of freedom of expression, and release of political prisoners.

Anti-government protesters in the kingdom also want an end to economic and religious discrimination and the termination of the government's March 2011-present involvement in brutal crackdown on pro-democracy protests in neighboring Bahrain.

Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, a prominent Shia cleric in Saudi Arabia, has warned the kingdom against continuing the brutal crackdown in Eastern Province.