15 June 2009 - 19:30

Saudi authorities arrested on last Friday a Shia citizen from Safwa city for taking part in rallying for Qudus International Day which corresponds to the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan.

Saudi authorities arrested on last Friday a Shia citizen from Safwa city for taking part in rallying for Qudus International Day which corresponds to the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan.

Sources informed that Saudi authorities arrested Muneer Hashim Al-Asaad (45 years) from his house for raising Palestine flag on Qudus remembrance day.

Mr. Al-Asaad is an English language teacher and father of 3 was arrested several times on the last three years.

He was arrested in 2006 for demonstrating in front of Ministry of Education branch in Dammam and raising a banner that says: "I want fair judgment from Education Administration now". He was moved from teaching seat to an administrative work and then was fired.

Saudi rationale behind his second arrest was for raising a banner on his house that says: "Mercy to earthling ... Mercy to Gaza"

Human Rights Watch said in a report released recently, that Saudi is practicing Systematic Discrimination and Hostility toward Saudi Shia Citizens.

State discrimination against Shia extends to realms other than religious freedom. The report cites discrimination in the education system, where Shia may not teach religion in class and Shia pupils learn from Sunni teachers that they are unbelievers.

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