Saudi regime forces shoot dead a protester in Qatif

At least one protester has been shot dead by the Al Saud regime forces during a demonstration to demand the release of political prisoners in the country’s oil-rich Eastern Province.

Local activists said on Friday that the Saudi regime forces opened fire on demonstrators in the Qatif district, east of the capital, Riyadh, killing 18-year-old Ali al-Marar.

According to local reports, several others were also injured and arrested during the demonstration that, once again, called on the regime to stop cracking down on protesters.

Activists further said that security forces in two vehicles had shot “indiscriminately” at the demonstrators in the central part of Qatif. The forces had also reportedly opened fire at the people on rooftops.

Saudi Arabia’s oil-rich Eastern Province has been rocked by anti-regime protests since February 2011.

Saudi protesters have held demonstrations on an almost regular basis mainly in the Qatif region and the town of Awamiyah in Eastern Province. Their primary demands are the release of all political prisoners, social justice and an end to systematic 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 province.

According to Human Rights Watch, the Saudi regime “routinely represses expression critical of the government.”

H.SH