Saudi Regime’s Attacks on Shiite-Populated City Displace Hundreds
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Hundreds of the people of al-Awamiyah in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province have been forced to flee their homes following the Riyadh regime’s artillery attacks on the Shiite-populated city.
The residents of Awamiyah have taken refuge in neighboring villages following continued attacks by regime forces who raid their houses and fire artillery shells into residential areas.
Over the past week, at least six Shiite citizens have been shot to death by the Saudi military forces in the region.
The Saudi regime’s military siege of Awamiyah, which began in May, has become more severe in recent days.
Al-Awamiyah, a town of 30,000 in the Shiite-majority Qatif district, was the home of Nimr al-Nimr, a Shiite cleric put to death in January last year over trumped-up charges.
The Shiite-populated Eastern Province has been the scene of peaceful demonstrations since February 2011. Protesters have been demanding reforms, freedom of expression, the release of political prisoners, and an end to economic and religious discrimination against the oil-rich region.
The protests have been met with a heavy-handed crackdown by the regime.
