Saudi opposition prepares for demonstration in Ramadan
Saudi Arabia, Politics, 10/25/2003

Chairman of the Saudi Arabian al-Islah (reform) movement,which takes London as a headquarters, Saad al-Faqih, has announced that the movement will work for organizing demonstrations in the coming days in a way that leads to a greater demonstration in the royal court during the holy month of Ramadan.

In a statement quoted by the London- based al-Quds al-Arabi, al-Faqih accused the Saudi security forces of embarking on violence and tear gas in Jeddah to suppress some 1,000 demonstrators who tried to gather in order to take part in marches called on by the opposition and arrested scores of them.

He also considered that the most successful demonstrations which took place on Thursday was in Hael during which confrontations took place that lasted from afternoon prayers until sunset.

On Thursday, the Saudi security forces foiled large scale objections called upon by the government and intensified its presence in major cities in the Kingdom especially on Riyadh, Jeddah, al-Dammam, al-Ihsa, Breida, Hael, al-Jouf and al-Baha.

Witnesses said that the Saudi security forces arrested some 70 persons when it interfered to prevent a demonstration which was presumed to be held in the city of Jeddah at the invitation of an opposition Saudi opposition in exile. According to the witnesses among the arrested persons are five women. They did not raise banners nor chanted slogans.

This is, however, the second demonstration within two weeks in which the Islamic movement for reforms calls for organizing demonstration in the Kingdom.

The Saudi authorities said it had arrested more than 270 persons during a demonstration in Riyadh last week and some 83 of them were brought before the court.

Previous Stories:
  Washington calls Riyadh to speed reforms, Saudi demonstrations foiled   (10/24/2003)
  Iraqi refugees in Saudi Arabia return back to Iraq one shift every week   (10/22/2003)
  Saudi opposition calls for demonstration tomorrow   (10/22/2003)

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