Islamic Scholar in Nigeria Sheik Yakubu Yahaya has strongly condemned the atrocities of Saudi Arabian Authority of death sentence to Saudi Shia scholar Sheik Nimr Al Nimr and for persecuting of its citizens for practicing Islam best on their ideological believe.
In an interview with our correspondent in Suleja town of Niger state, the Scholar described the crackdown on the followers of Ahlul Bait as injustice, unethical and against the Islamic code of conduct, saying that at this the Qatif Oil region of the country which have largest population of followers of ahlil Baith are facing Inadequate social Amenities and unequal Educational opportunities have followed the global awakening and seek for redress of Injustice melted against them by the Authority.
The Scholar also said the Saudi Authority should stop maltreating and arresting of Shia Muslims in the Country on the basis of their religious Ideology, saying that the Authority is neither practicing Sunni nor Shiite they are just protecting the Interest of United State not Muslims or Islam, its claim of being Arabia is meaningless because Egyptian, Qatars or anybody in middle East can claim to be Arab.
Activists say there are over 30,000 political prisoners in Saudi Arabia.
International human rights organizations have criticized Saudi Arabia for failing to address the rights situation in the kingdom. They say Saudi Arabia has persistently implemented repressive policies that stifle freedom of expression, association and assembly.
A court in the Saudi kingdom has also given leading Shia cleric Sheikh Tawfiq al-Amr an eight-year jail term and a ten-year travel ban. He has also been barred from delivering religious sermons.
The cleric has been charged with criticizing the country's ruling system and calling for political reform. He has been arrested several times over his calls on the Saudi government to give Shias further freedom to exercise their religious rights
Accurate religious demographics of citizens are difficult to obtain. A majority of Saudi citizens are Salafi Muslims, and the strict interpretation of Islam taught by the Salafi or Wahhabi (historically known as Sufyani in early Islam but now named as Salafi) sect is the only officially recognized religion. A minority of citizens are Shia Muslims. In 2006, they formed around 15% of the native population. They live mostly in the eastern districts on the Persian Gulf (Qatif, Al-Hasa,Damman), where they constitute approximately three-quarters of the native population, and in the western highlands of Arabia (districts ofJazan, Najran, Asir, Madina, Ta’if, andHijaz).
The only National holidays observed in Saudi Arabia are the two Eids, Eid Al-Fitr at the end of Ramadan and Eid Al- Adha at the conclusion of the Hajj and the Saudi national day Contrary practices, such as celebrating Maulid Al-Nabi (birthday of the Prophet Muhammad) and visits to the tombs of renowned Muslims, are forbidden, although enforcement was more relaxed in some communities than in others, and Shi'a were permitted to observe Ashura publicly in some communities were Shia commemorate the Martyrdom of Imam Hussein A.S the grandson of prophet Muhammad SAW.
Muslims who do not follow the strict Wahhabi interpretation of Islam prevalent in Saudi Arabia also face restrictions on public and private worship. A special religious force polices the morality of Saudis in public and private, and, for Muslims, attendance at the five prayers every day.
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