Health Conditions of Jailed Saudi Cleric Deteriorating

The family members of prominent detained Muslim cleric Sheikh Nemr Baqir al-Nemr voiced deep concern about the deteriorating health conditions of the jail opposition leader.

According to a report by Islamtimes website on Monday, members of Sheikh Nemr’s family were allowed to meet him for a second time since his detention.

They issued a statement after the meeting and announced that Sheikh Nemr’s health conditions are deteriorating after his hunger strike and due to continued torture in Saudi jails.

The statement, however, said that Sheikh Nemr is in high morale despite weak health conditions.

The statement further added that Saudi security authorities are interrogating him every day.

The suppression of Shiites in Saudi Arabia was intensified after the death of Saudi Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud and the appointment of Salman bin Abdulaziz as the new crown prince of the country.

The increased violence and killings in the Arab country indicate that the new crown prince is a more extremist person than his predecessor and he is attempting to massacre the Shiite residents of the Eastern parts of the country.

Since February 2011, Saudi protesters have held demonstrations on an almost regular basis in Eastern Provinces, mainly in the Qatif region and the town of Awamiyah, calling for the release of all political prisoners, freedom of expression and assembly, and an end to widespread discrimination.

However, the demonstrations have turned into protests against the US-backed Al Saud regime, especially since November 2011, when Saudi security forces killed five protesters and injured many others.

The Saudi interior ministry issued a statement on March 5, 2011, prohibiting “all forms of demonstrations, marches or protests, and calls for them”.

According to Human Rights Watch, the Saudi regime “routinely represses expression critical of the government”.