Saudi Shia protesters demand release of political prisoners

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - In the Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh, dozens of protesters have once again taken to the streets to demand the release of political prisoners.The protesters and relatives of prisoners, mostly held without charge, gathered in front of the Saudi Human Rights Commission in Riyadh, on Monday.The gathering in the capital comes after another one was held outside a desert prison in the central province of Qassim in protest against the illegal detention of political prisoners.Reports say many protesters have been arrested.Riyadh has banned all kinds of demonstrations in the kingdom.According to activists, there are over 30,000 political prisoners in Saudi Arabia. Human rights groups have accused the House of Saud of imprisoning political dissidents.Human rights groups have accused the Saudi regime of human rights violations.Since February 2011, protesters have held numerous demonstrations in Saudi Arabia, mainly in Qatif and Awamiyah in the Eastern Province, to call for the release of all political prisoners, freedom of expression and assembly, and an end to widespread discrimination against Shia Muslims.However, the demonstrations have turned into protests against the repressive Al Saud regime, especially since November 2011, when Saudi security forces killed five protesters and injured many others in the province. /129