Saudi Arabia:Uprising seeps

Saudi Arabia had been immune to the Arab Spring until late last year, but since then it has seemed the people of Saudi Arabia are also becoming active. In the last two or three months, Saudis, especially Saudi women, have protested against the regime for some obnoxious restrictions.

Women of the country have protested for the driving ban. The regime, on the other hand, vowed to deal with an iron hand with violators of rules and regulations of the country. Though slowly, people have gradually started protesting against the regime, demanding political reforms and an end to discrimination with the Shiite minority in the country. The Saudi government has tried to play down the protests saying “a foreign” force was behind fuelling the protests against the regime.

This time, Saudi security forces killed a person during clashes in the country’s Eastern Province, while three others sustained critical bullet injuries. The province is home to a large Shiite minority and security forces are often found patrolling the area to keep a vigilant eye on the community. The government believes that the community is funded and supported by Iran to create unrest in the country. Iran is considered to be one of the arch-rivals of the country.

A large number of the members of the Shiite minority were holding protest demonstrations in four Qatif region villages against the regime, demanding release of political prisoners, an end to discrimination with the community and political reforms in the country. Saudi Arab is a Sunni-dominated country, where Shiites make 10 to 15 percent of the country’s total population.

Earlier this month, the regime ordered arrest of 23 members of the Shiite community for creating unrest in the country. The protesters were also demanding release of these detainees when the security forces allegedly opened fire on them. The security forces tried to disperse the protesters peacefully, but started firing after the mob refused to end the protest demonstration against the regime. The charged protesters were demanding immediate release of the detained members of their community.

The monarch announced a number of concessions and privileges to the people after the Arab uprising entered Libya, Jordan, Syria and Bahrain. The regime tried to prevent the uprising in the country by offering incentives to the people, but it now seems that it is just a matter of time for the uprising to hit the country. People are getting fed up with the oppressive attitude of the government and have started demanding political reforms in the country.

The United States and the international community should also cease their double role in pushing for democracy in the Arab world. Pressure should be piled up on the Saudi monarch as well to bring political reforms in the country and a democratic government should be established in the country.