Saudi authorities have started releasing about 25 Shias detained last week during protests after community leaders met King Abdullah and other officials, activists said yesterday.
Shias have staged small protests for about two weeks in the kingdom’s oil-producing east, mainly to demand the release of prisoners they say are held without trial.
Saudi Arabia’s minority Shias complain of discrimination, saying they often struggle to get senior government jobs and benefits available to other citizens.
Shia leaders met the king and the governor of the Eastern province yesterday to seek the release of Shias detained for taking part in protests in the east, which holds much of the oil wealth of the world’s top crude exporter.
“We know that the prisoners will be released today,” said Ibrahim al-Mugaiteeb, head of the Human Rights First Society. “I think some are already with their families,” he said, echoing comments by Shia activists in the minority’s main area of Qatif on the Gulf coast near Bahrain.
A 26th Shia detained after the protests was freed earlier this week, activists said.
Interior Ministry officials could not be reached immediately for comment. State news agency SPA said only that the king had met clerics, tribal chiefs and military officials from Qatif.
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