REUTERS

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia: Saudi authorities have freed 44 Shiite protesters who called for an end to human rights violations in the country and protested against Saudi Arabia’s intervention in Bahrain, activists said Wednesday.
Activists in the oil-producing Eastern Province, where Saudi Arabia’s minority Shiites reside, say the government has detained dozens of Shiite protesters over the past four months after they held small demonstrations, demanding more rights.

“Most of them were calling for more human rights ... They also protested against Saudi Arabia’s involvement in Bahrain,” said Fouad Ali, an activist in the Eastern Province.

“They released 44 of them this morning. There are still 28 left in Dammam prison, 10 in Khobar prison and 11 in Dammam [police station],” said Ali, who was involved in the release efforts.
A spokesman at the Interior Ministry declined to immediately comment.
Meanwhile, Islamist activists condemned Wednesday government plans to pass a new anti-terrorism law which international rights groups fear will be used to further crackdown on dissent in the kingdom.

Saudi Arabia, the world’s leading oil exporter and a major U.S. ally, is an absolute monarchy that does not tolerate dissent. It has not seen the kind of uprisings that have rocked other Arab countries over the past few months.
The unofficial Islamic Umma party, which was set up in February, posted on its website a call for religious scholars to speak out against what it called, “laws that aim to seize the citizens’ right to criticize the government.”

Amnesty International Friday published leaked copies of the Draft Penal Law for Terrorism Crimes and Financing Terrorism, saying it would allow extended detentions without charge or trial which can be used against peaceful opposition.
Saudi Arabia rejected the accusation, saying the law will be used against militants.