Saudi Arabia executes four in Qatif over terror allegations

Saudi Arabia has executed four people in the kingdom’s oil-rich Eastern Province over allegations of conducting terrorist activities, the Saudi Interior Ministry says.

Saudi Arabia has executed four people in the kingdom’s oil-rich Eastern Province over allegations of conducting terrorist activities, the Saudi Interior Ministry says.

The Saudi Interior Ministry claims that the four, who were executed in Qatif Governorate, had attacked police stations and petrol officers.

The Shia-dominated Eastern Province, particularly the Qatifregion, has been the scene of peaceful demonstrations since February 2011. 

Protesters, complaining of marginalization in the Sunni-ruled kingdom, 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.

However, the government has responded to the protests with a heavy-handed crackdown, but the rallies have intensified since January 2016 when Saudi Arabia executed respected Shia cleric, Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, an outspoken critic of the policies of the Riyadh regime. The provocative move further escalated tension across the province.