Saudis rally in Riyadh to call for release of political detainees

Saudis have staged a protest rally in the capital, Riyadh, to demand the release of those held in Al Saud prisons without charge for long time.

Witnesses said scores of people, including women, demonstrated outside Saudi Arabia’s Human Rights Commission in the capital on Tuesday to call for the release of their jailed relatives.

“Release innocent detainees,” read a banner held by the protesters.

The protesters ware dispersed by police and dozens of them, including women and chidren, were arrested.

“They detained six children, 23 women and around 30 men,” Ali Alhattab, an activist told Reuters.

In October, Saudi authorities warned that they would deal “firmly” with protests after hundreds of Saudis gathered outside Tafiya prison, north of the capital, in September to demand the release of their relatives.

Human rights watchdog Amnesty International has criticized Riyadh over the warning and urged the authorities to “withdraw their threat.” In Saudi Arabia, protests and political gatherings of any kind are prohibited.