Saudi Forces Launch “Bloody Raids” in Awamiyah; Human Rights Concerns Mount
In what is described as “Bloody raids by Saudi government forces on the Shia-majority region of Awamiyah,” the city in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province has witnessed a series of “four intense security operations over the past week,” between July 21 and July 24, 2025.
The recent operations conducted by Saudi forces, characterized by “arrests, destruction of homes, intimidation of residents, and media suppression,” are presented as a continuation of “the Saudi government’s repressive policies,” Shia Waves Persian reported.
The report, citing the “Thawwar al-Nimr Network” Twitter account, details that these “unannounced security operations” took place in various areas, notably Al-Jabal and Shukrallah, utilizing “armored vehicles and heavy military equipment.” During one such raid, “a young man named Nazir Al Adam was arrested,” reportedly accompanied by “violence, beatings, and destruction of his home.” This incident tragically highlights the fate of his family, as his brothers “Munir Al Adam” and “Majid Al Adam” were “martyred in political executions and previous security operations,” while “Hussein Al Adam” is currently imprisoned.
Shia Waves Persian notes that these “sudden raids and surprise attacks” were met with “direct threats to the people to remain silent and prevent media coverage,” and that “residents of the area were not even allowed to take pictures or send news from the scene.”
This “complete concealment of information and prevention of news and reports from official sources,” alongside “complete news censorship,” has “raised concerns among human rights activists.” These activists, the report states, “emphasize that Shia-majority cities continue to be targets of the Saudi regime’s repressive policies, and many Shia families, like the Al Adam family, have fallen victim to a silent genocide.”
This aligns with consistent documentation by human rights organizations like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, which have long reported on systemic discrimination and crackdowns against Saudi Arabia’s Shia minority.
