Saudi Security Forces Open Fire on Protesters

Saudi Arabian security forces fired on protesters near the Eastern Province city of Qatif, after demonstrators took to the streets ” in the town of Shwika on Monday to protest over the death of a 19-year-old Shia man, Nasser al-Mheishi, who died of wounds sustained near a police checkpoint on Sunday night.” It is reported that three Shi’ite Muslims have been killed by “stray bullets,” activists told Reuters, ahead of Ashura holiday which has prompted clashes in the past. Saudi Shi’ites complain of pervasive discrimination as Saudi authorities deny such allegations.

Meanwhile, a court in Saudi Arabia sentenced 17 men to prison for up to 30 years for “sedition and other offenses.” “They were charged, among other crimes, with attempting to seize power, incitement against the king, financing terrorism, electronic crimes, money laundering and trying to set up a political party,” defense lawyer Bassim Alim said before the sentencing. Many of the men sentenced were activists, academics, and lawyers, and Amnesty International described them in its 2011 annual report as “advocates of peaceful political reform.”