People have held demonstrations against the Al Saud regime in the holy city of Mecca and the central city of Buraidah, Press TV reports. The demonstrators took to the streets in the two cities on Tuesday, calling for the downfall of the Saudi regime. They also demanded the release of political prisoners. On December 31, tens of thousands of Saudi nationals staged a protest in the oil-rich Eastern Province to condemn the recent killing of a teenage demonstrator. The demonstration in Eastern Province was held following the funeral of Ahmad al-Marar, who was killed when regime forces opened fire on a group of protesters in the Qatif region of the province on December 27. Since February 2011, protesters have held demonstrations on an almost regular basis in Saudi Arabia, mainly in Qatif and the town of Awamiyah in Eastern Province, primarily calling for the release of all political prisoners, freedom of expression and assembly, and an end to widespread discrimination. However, the demonstrations have turned into protests against the Al Saud regime, especially since November 2011, when security forces killed five protesters and injured many others in the province. Amnesty International has called on Saudi authorities to stop using excessive force against the protesters. According to Human Rights Watch, the Saudi regime “routinely represses expression critical of the government." Presstv
