News / Saudi Arabia

Saudi forces detain man over unrest in Qatif

Saturday, 02 January 2016 7:04 AM [ Last Update: Saturday, 02 January 2016 7:06 AM ]

The file photo shows Saudi policemen standing guard in the capital Riyadh.

Saudi Arabia has arrested a resident in Qatif which has been the scene of anti-regime protests since 2011.

The Saudi Interior Ministry said Mufeed bin Ahmed Hasan Omran was apprehended for his involvement in the killing of two policemen on November 13, 2015.

It claim the seizure of a machine gun, handgun, hashish and amphetamine pills at the scene without saying when or providing details on him.

The Shia-dominated Eastern Province has been the site of peaceful demonstrations, mostly in the districts of Qatif and Awamiyah, since February 2011.

Protesters have been demanding reforms, freedom of expression and the release of political prisoners. They want an end to economic and religious discrimination against the oil-rich region.

Several demonstrators have been killed and dozens of activists arrested since the beginning of protests in the region.

International rights bodies, including Amnesty International, have criticized Saudi Arabia for its grim human rights record, arguing that widespread violations continue unabated in the country.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk