Saudi Forces Kill Religious Figure in Restive Shiite-Populated City
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Saudi regime forces, as part of their ongoing clampdown on Shiite Muslims in the oil-rich kingdom, shot to death a religious figure in the restive city of al-Awamiyah in Eastern Province, informed sources said.
The security forces shot to death Amin Al Hani, the head of the Quranic Council of Qatif, on Saturday, according to the opposition sources in Saudi Arabia.
The incident occurred when the forces opened fire on the religious figure’s vehicle near a military checkpoint in Awamiyah, the sources said.
The shooting also set fire to his vehicle while he was inside the car, according to the report.
Al-Awamiyah, a town of 30,000 in the Shiite-majority Qatif district, was the home of Nimr al-Nimr, a Shiite cleric put to death in January last year over trumped-up charges.
The Shiite-populated Eastern Province has been the scene of peaceful demonstrations since February 2011. Protesters have been demanding reforms, freedom of expression, the release of political prisoners, and an end to economic and religious discrimination against the oil-rich region.
The protests have been met with a heavy-handed crackdown by the regime.
