Saudi Arabia Bans All Protests
VOA News
March 05, 2011
Photo: Reuters
Anti-riot police stand-off with protesters in the Gulf coast town of Awwamiya, Saudi Arabia, March 3, 2011
Saudi Arabia has banned all protests following several small gatherings of demonstrators demanding change in the conservative kingdom.
The country's Interior Ministry announced Saturday on state television that security forces would use what it called "all measures" to prevent any attempt to disrupt public order.
The ban follows a series of protests by minority Shi'ite Muslims, calling for the release of prisoners they said were being held unjustly. Media reports say police made a number of arrests during these events.
Most of Saudi Arabia's Shi'ite minority lives in the country's oil-rich east. This region borders the kingdom of Bahrain, which has been the scene of protests by majority Shi'ites against their Sunni rulers. Saudi Shi'ites - like their Bahraini bretheran - complain that their Sunni-controlled government discriminates against them.
Opposition activists in Saudi Arabia have made public calls on Facebook for two organized rallies, one on March 11 as a "Day of Rage," and the other on March 20.
So-called "Day of Rage" rallies have spread across the region, contributing to the ouster of Tunisia's and Egypt's leaders.
Late last month, more than 100 Saudi academics, activists and businessmen called for major reforms in Saudi Arabia, including the establishment of a constitutional monarchy.
Their statement published online also called for members of the kingdom's advisory assembly (known as the Shura Council) to be elected rather than appointed. In addition, the statement included demands for economic and social reforms, in a country where women's freedoms are very restricted.
In February, Saudi King Abdullah announced a number of new economic incentives to his people, including pay raises and increased spending on social programs. The total package of reforms is worth an estimated $36 billion.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.
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The world is waiting for comemnts regarding this ban from the Obama administration...or will we witness yet again the double standards it deploys when it comes to its allies?
What makes them think that banning protests will calm the people down? If anything, it will inflame them further. If your pot is boiling over, you don't solve the problem by gluing the lid on.
The USA is with the revolutionaries...
The USA will have their own revolution April 1. Global revolution day....
- Don't buy anything
- Don't go to work
- Don't let the elites keep you down.
Viva la revolution
Time for the absolute monarchy in Saudi Arabia to go.
Saudi Arabia's unemployment rate is higher than in the US..
The US needs to take a stand with the oppressed people in Saudi Arabia and say "No more military aid to an absolute monarch"
It is time for the USA to rethink it's ties with Saudi Arabia. The USA's dependence on Saudi oil force it to turn a blind eye to injustices on the peninsula.
Reform is not just about money, it's for freedom. Unfortunately the kind of freedom the Arabians are demanding is not right - they simply want it based on islamic approach. But the required freedom is such as will allow basic rights of the people to choose what they want including religion, so that as they have mosques all over the places, churches too can be built where the people want them: In Rome so also in Riyadh!
Ban the protests and bribe the people? Let me know how that works out for you. Seems these guys are missing the point. Doesn’t matter what the king does or doesn’t do. He will die soon. What happens then? Seems they have a greater problem with fundamentalists - throwing billions at them has me more than a little concerned.
The USA now wants protesters in countries other than Libya, to compromise with the tyrants, largely to keep the oil flowing.
If American freedom fighters in 1776 were forced into compromise with the British king, the United States would not exist today. Yet, America today expects North African and Middle East freedom protesters to compromise.
All protesters are anti-Islam. The archietecs of these demonstrations across the arab region (muslim countries) are western leaders who hid behind hypocrates of islam to execute
their plans. Insha Allah their plans will fail. Allah who is the best in planning will surely protect his religion.
I wonder why the royal family is afraid of its shadows. If they have been transparent, they need not fear. Let them tell me where in the Quran are demonstrations banned or do they interprete it as they seem fit? My dear royal family yours is not far away, get ready and enact speedy reforms now.It is painful when a kingdom falls and all of us on the same page as was supposed to be. No more royals which is a form us repression.
Obama and Clinton...where are you? Your silence on this latest Saudi move is deafening!
Obama and Clinton...where are you? Your silence on this latest Saudi move is deafening!
Another case of using religion to deny the basic human rights. Where does it say in Quran not to protest peacefully to address your grievances with the rulers
Will Clinton or Obama tell Saudi Tyrants to let their citizens protest in public. NEVER, because Saudi's sit on a sea of oil and buy $biliions of guns and Military and commercial aircraft. from US Do the words HYPOCRISY and GUTLESS. come to mind . The same HYPOCRISY apply to Rep. politicians. WE Americans are a nation of HYPOCRITES because of GREED - PROFIT. WE care nothing about freedom of people in these countries, just what we can take ,like Oil Gas. minerals.
King Abdullah has skillfully managed his nations wealth since the early thirties, but times are changing. His leadership is creating a foul odor, he is seen by many as a greedy and corrupt dictator. Eventually he will be replaced by a constitutional government, but it is doubtful that the living conditions of the Saudi people will improve. Most oil profits will continue going into the pockets of the few.
Saudi Arabia has a long way to go to attain any freedoms. SA is the home of Islam, has the Kaaba, and all Muslim's must visit Mecca at least once in their lifetime. So it is hardcore and NOTHING MUCH will ever change there until Islam fades away.
As bad as Saudi Arabia is; and it IS BAD!, some other Muslim countries are worse: Oman, is one example. The Sultan tyrant has a personal elite army of 6,000, plus a HUGE armed forces, thousands of secret police and other security units. Protestors have been shot, then he handed out cash to buy protestors off. Disgusting!
Saudi Arabia is good for us. They and US and UK offer us peace and protect from Iran and Oman which wants to rule us. Ahmadinehjad and Qaboos bin Said are crazy for power.
what a coincidence! Malaysia has been doing that for 40 years, banning a gathering of more than 3 persons ,ostensibly under the pretext of 'protecting' national security!
the malaysian Government has been deploying their Riot Squad and spraying chemical-laced water cannons against protestors, baton charging unarmed civilians, women and children included
and USA had not raised any objections at all; why is that?
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