Saudi court begins trial of 23 Shiite activists

Mehr News reported that according to reports on Wednesday, among 23 activists, 13 would come before the court in Al-Qatif and the remaining activists would face absent trial.

The local government in Al-Sharqiya has prepared a wide range of allegations against the activists including terrorist allegations.

Walid Abu Khabir, prominent Saudi human rights advocate was sentenced to 3 months in jail on Tuesday. He was accused of signing a petition seeking reforms two years ago, where he criticized the Saudi regime of misbehaving 16 activists.

  Activists told larger number of them had been detained by the Saudi regime without legal trial or charges. Since February 2011, several demonstrations have been held when protesters demanded the release of political prisoners and ending discrimination against Shiite Muslim minority.

However, the government has responded with oppressing tactics and crackdown on the protesters, and in November, the demonstrations escalated against the regime. Since then, the security forces had been opening fire on-and-off in Al-Qatif, causing many deaths and injuries.

Security forces have regularly marched houses of activists in Al-Qatif to detain the demonstration organizers. In October 2012 the Transparency International asked the Saudi regime to avoid using excessive force against the demonstrators.

SH/MR
MNA
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