FRI 29 - 3 - 2024
 
Date: Apr 20, 2011
Source: The Daily Star
Gulf activists urge prisoners release

KUWAIT CITY/DUBAI: Gulf rights activists urged the release of hundreds of people arrested across the region during pro-democracy protests and called for comprehensive political reforms Tuesday.


A statement signed by a dozen liberal organizations and about 190 intellectuals from the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council also warned against the risk of a “sectarian strife” in the predominantly Sunni region.
They expressed concerns over the future of their countries “in light of the conduct of some GCC governments in stifling peaceful demands for freedom, justice and democracy,” it said.


The statement called on GCC leaders to “free all citizens, rights activists and politicians detained during the recent peaceful protests,” in Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The GCC also includes Kuwait and Qatar.


The statement listed the names of 110 people arrested in the eastern province of Saudi Arabia where the minority Shiite Muslims have staged several protests in the past few weeks.


It also called on Saudi Arabia to release or put on trial around 5,000 detainees who have been arrested in connection with terrorism charges, and for the release of dozens of political prisoners arrested recently.


Saudi authorities arrested a Shiite Muslim intellectual in the eastern province Tuesday, human rights activists said.
Security forces arrested al-Saeed al-Majid, a Shiite writer, Sunday at his workplace in Khobar on the Gulf coast, the independent Human Rights First Society said in a statement.


“After the arrest, security forces raided his home in Qatif where they confiscated his laptop plus some personal belongings,” Human Rights First said, adding that the reason for his arrest was unclear.
Saudi authorities were not immediately available for comment.


The Gulf rights activists’ petition also called for the release of Bahrainis detained following the crackdown on a Shiite-led pro-democracy protest, putting the number of detainees and missing in the Sunni-ruled kingdom at 744 people.
The UAE has also arrested four rights activists.


The statement called on GCC states to carry out comprehensive political reforms, draft constitutions and allow the formation of political parties and hold free democratic elections.
Only Kuwait and Bahrain have elected parliaments with legislative powers.



 
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