CAIRO: Saudi Arabian authorities have conducted a raid in the city of Qatif, where hundreds of riot police have been deployed targeting two elderly men, Hassan al-Zayed and Said Abdul-Aal, and detained them in order to put pressure on their sons to turn themselves in, rights groups said. The sons of the two men had participated in the peaceful demonstrations in March. Two other activists who proceeded to enquire about the arrests were also detained, spurring the residents to gather in front of the police station in protest of the detentions. Riot police failed to control the gathering mob, which resulted in the release of Abdul-Aal. Zayed has remained in intensive care due to his deteriorating health. The other two activists are still in detention. The Arab Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) has condemned the arrests, calling it a massive violation of human rights. “It was not enough for the Saudi government to support its neighboring autocracies, or to enforce censorship on newspapers and mass media. It did not settle for the suppressive measures against the citizens to muzzle their mouths, the severe hostility towards the Internet, illegal detentions, and confiscation of the legitimate right to peaceful assembly. The actions of the Saudi authorities have amounted to harassing the relatives of the protesters and detaining human rights activists who defend them,” said ANHRI. ANHRI proceeded to criticize both international and Arab communities, calling their silence “shameful.” They argue that there is n longer room for silence, calling everyone who is concerned with freedom, freedom of expression in particular, to place more pressure for the release of the imprisoned activists and to expose the oppressive practices of the Saudi government. Human Rights Watch has estimated that roughly 160 protesters and critics are being held without charge by the Saudi security service. BM
